Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer is worried about Republicans falling in lockstep behind Donald Trump and is working to beat back support for him ahead of the June 7 California primary.
The political arm of Steyer’s NextGen Climate group said Friday that it is funding a voter registration campaign to ensure Trump doesn’t win the primary election in the Golden State.
Steyer is appearing in a televised ad in California to rally voters against Trump before the deadline to register expires on Monday. The ad features a montage of Trump referring to Mexicans as “rapists,” discussing plans to round up illegal immigrants and plans to build a wall along the border with Mexico.
Steyer says in the ad: “That’s not America. We’re all Californians. It’s time to speak out. Please register.” A woman by his side adds, “And vote.”
Steyer was busy earlier this week countering Trump’s statements about renegotiating the Paris climate deal that President Obama and nearly 200 countries agreed to in December. The nonbinding climate deal obligates countries to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that many scientists blame for causing the Earth’s climate the warm.
“Trump’s denunciation of the Paris climate accord is not only short-sighted, but would be terribly costly for America and our ability to lead the world,” Steyer said. “We cannot go backwards on this important step towards a clean energy economy that benefits all our families.”
But Steyer also appears to be worried about the increasing number of Republican lawmakers getting behind the presumptive nominee as they face re-election fights in their own states.
“But it’s not just Trump who would take our country backwards — GOP Senate candidates across the country continue to march in lockstep with their new leader of the Republican Party,” Steyer’s group said on Friday.
Many of the GOP senators on NextGen’s list are in tough re-election fights and are considered moderates who have been willing to work with Democrats on environmental issues, including Rob Portman of Ohio, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Mark Kirk of Illinois and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
“By siding with Donald Trump, these senators are supporting a dangerous agenda that would hurt our country’s health, safety and security, all for the sake of protecting polluters’ profits,” NextGen said.
