Adversaries
Paul Newton:
Although former Senator Paul Newton is no longer in the legislature (resigned March 2025), his actions continue to have a negative impact on the environment. Before his resignation, Newton sponsored SB 261, The Energy Security and Affordability Act, which was eventually inserted into [H1] & [S1] SB 266: eliminating the Carbon Plan interim goals. This legislation will cost ratepayers billions of dollars in fuel, but Newton prioritized Duke Energy instead. As a former Duke Energy Executive, Newton betrayed his constituents by sponsoring this bill, putting polluters over people.
Rep. Carla Cunningham:
Rep. Carla Cunningham’s environmental voting record says she does not care about the environment or her constituents. Cunningham is tied with Rep. Shelly Willingham for the lowest score of all Democrats in the legislature. She votes against the environment and her constituents on many environmental issues in this scorecard. Cunningham has made it known that she does not care about the environment or the health of her constituents, consistently supporting polluters over the financial and environmental well-being of her constituents.
Rep. Shelly Willingham
Rep. Shelly Willingham also has a significantly lower environmental score than the rest of his party, showing similar loyalties as Rep. Cunningham. Many of his votes directly go against his constituents and the environment. In multiple instances, Representatives Cunningham and Willingham are two of a small Democratic enclave that could have a much more impactful influence on getting positive environmental bills passed, yet they consistently vote against the wellbeing of their constituents and the environment.
Allies
Sen. Sydney Batch
Sen. Sydney Batch, leader of the North Carolina Democratic Caucus, has been an environmental champion throughout her Senate tenure. She has boldly spoken out against attacks on environmental protections and is helping create a new legislature to make sure that our state continues on a path towards a sustainable, healthy future. For her noble work, Batch was awarded the NCLCV 2025 Defender of the Environment Award.
Rep. Sarah Crawford
Rep. Sarah Crawford has long been a champion of the environment in the legislature. Namely, Crawford sponsored HB 689, a bill that creates a novel environmental justice framework in North Carolina. She also promoted HB 8, the Managing Environmental Waste Act of 2025, which reduces single-use plastic in the state. These bills, along with her 100% lifetime voting record, have made Rep. Crawford an invaluable environmental ally. Based on her actions and votes, Rep. Crawford was awarded the NCLCV 2025 Representative of the Year.
Sen. DeAndrea Salvador
Sen. DeAndrea Salvador has been an outstanding advocate for the environment this year in the legislature. Through her voting and bill introduction, she has proven to be fiercely loyal to environmental advocacy and protection. This year, Salvador introduced the Clean Energy and Workforce Innovation Act, aimed at creating clean energy jobs in the state. Salvador’s exemplary work has led to her being named NCLCV 2025 Senator of the Year.
Legislators with 100% Lifetime Score
We would like to commend the legislators that have maintained a perfect score in their tenure as an elected official. Their actions have been key in maintaining the environmental and human health of North Carolina. Thank you to Representatives: Eric Ager, Mary Belk, Kanika Brown, Allen Buansi, Laura Budd, Maria Cervania, Tracy Clark, Sarah Crawford, Julie Greenfield, Pricey Harrison, Beth Helfrich, Monika Johnson-Hostler, Carolyn G. Logan, Tim Longest, Jordan Lopez, Rodney Pierce, Lindsey Prather, Phil Rubin, and Julie von Haefen. Thank you to Senators Woodson Bradley, Jay Chaudhuri, Sophia Chitlik, Lisa Grafstein, Mujtaba Mohammed, Natalie Murdock, and Caleb Theodros.
Know the Score: See the Full Scorecard
To see how your legislators scored, and to learn more about the 2025 bills and votes, see the full 2024-2025 Scorecard.
