{"id":4945,"date":"2026-08-25T22:07:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hometransferguide.com\/?p=4945"},"modified":"2026-08-25T22:07:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:07:37","slug":"colorado-elections-carry-national-stakes-as-climate-litigation-advocates-seek-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hometransferguide.com\/?p=4945","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Elections Carry National Stakes As Climate Litigation Advocates Seek Power"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With a landmark climate lawsuit against fossil-fuel companies heading to the Supreme Court, Colorado voters will decide whether to promote two statewide candidates who have backed such litigation. <\/p>\n

As attorney general,Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Weiser threw his office\u2019s weight behind Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County. <\/strong>Looking to pick up his torch is Jena Griswold, the Democratic attorney general nominee who has pledged to pursue more climate litigation against companies \u201cresponsible\u201d for \u201cclimate change,\u201d according to her campaign website.<\/p>\n

Read more Turns Out AI Wrote Billionaire\u2019s Widely-Cited Anti-Scott Bessent Op-Ed<\/a><\/p>\n

On Aug. 3, Weiser co-led a of Democratic attorneys general in filing an amicus curiae<\/em> brief urging the Supreme Court to allow Colorado courts to handle the case. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt this stage of the case, it would be an overreach and improper for the Supreme Court to prevent Colorado courts from considering the merits of this litigation,\u201d Weiser said in a press release at the time.<\/p>\n

Griswold meanwhile told Politico\u2019s E&E News in June that she not only support\u2019s Boulder\u2019s lawsuit but she would also \u201cwork to ensure the AG\u2019s office has the resources to bring climate-related lawsuits without waiting on the governor\u2019s administration.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNo candidate for any elected office at any level can credibly claim affordability as a priority and, at the same time, support Boulder\u2019s lawsuit against Suncor. It\u2019s like claiming you want lower food prices while supporting new taxes on grocery stores,\u201d Amy Cooke, president and chairman of the board at Always On Energy Research, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.<\/p>\n

Weiser and Griswold each did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (RELATED: Blockbuster Colorado Climate Case Takes First Amendment Turn)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2018, Boulder County and Boulder City filed suit against Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil, alleging the companies concealed the dangers of fossil fuels and contributed to climate-related harms in Colorado. The local governments are seeking damages through Colorado\u2019s state tort system to cover costs associated with wildfires, drought, flooding and other alleged effects of climate change.<\/p>\n

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The companies counter that the lawsuit effectively seeks to use Colorado law to regulate energy production and greenhouse-gas emissions originating around the world. Claims involving interstate and international emissions are inherently federal and cannot be governed by the tort law of an individual state, Suncor and ExxonMobil argued before the Supreme Court. <\/p>\n

The case has also attracted roughly 20 amicus curiae <\/em>briefs and raised questions beyond federal preemption. Free speech advocates argue that imposing liability based partly on the companies\u2019 public statements and political advocacy could violate the First Amendment, while environmental groups and Democratic-led governments have urged the Supreme Court to allow Boulder\u2019s claims to move forward. A victory for Boulder could therefore strengthen a nationwide campaign to pursue suits against fossil fuel companies through state courts, while a ruling for Suncor and ExxonMobil could sharply restrict that strategy.<\/p>\n

Griswold has pledged to use the attorney general\u2019s office to defend Colorado\u2019s \u201cair, water, land, and climate\u201d and \u201chold corporate polluters accountable,\u201d according to her campaign platform. Griswold has also attracted support from prominent climate groups. Her campaign received $10,000 during the 2026 election cycle from the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, according to Transparency USA, alongside an endorsement from Conservation Colorado.<\/p>\n