Midterm losses among moderate Florida Republicans have raised questions about the future of a climate caucus founded by two of the state's U.S. Congressmen.
The Climate Solutions Caucus created by representatives Ted Deutch (D-22) and Carlos Curbelo (R-26) is supposed to have one Republican for each Democrat.
But more than a third of the caucus' 45 Republican members , defeated by Democrats in the midterms or headed into retirement.
馃毃 HUGE NEWS: Carlos Curbelo, the founding Republican of the Climate Solutions Caucus has conceded his race
— Brian Kahn (@blkahn)
Among the ousted: caucus co-founder Curbelo, a moderate whoto continue representing Monroe County and parts of Miami-Dade.
Some environmentalists say the losses could be a blessing in disguise: they鈥檝e been unhappy with some caucus Republicans who in July .
They also question the caucus' efficacy: thus far, no climate-related bills proposed by caucus members have been passed into law.
The Democratic Party's gains in the House largely came at the expense of Republican incumbents who were members of the now-imperiled bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus 馃敀
— Corbin Hiar (@CorbinHiar)
But analysts say there鈥檚 no guarantee newly elected Democrats will focus on climate. And they say newly elected House Republicans are likely to be farther to the right -- less likely to promote climate change action -- than the moderate Republicans who held many of the caucus seats.
In an on election night with the environment and energy publication E&E News, Deutch declined to comment on the caucus鈥� future or who will take over for Curbelo as co-chair.
