When it comes to offshore oil and gas drilling, different candidates have different views on the controversial issue. While some support drilling in U.S. waters, some are skeptical of it or are even outright opposed to the idea of offshore drilling.
A majority of candidates, however, have gone on record against offshore leases, citing the threats they pose to the environment and their adverse effect on tourism-related jobs. From this, it’s certain that offshore drilling is going to be an important issue in the gubernatorial elections. Here’s how the offshore drilling debate is playing an important part in these 4 gubernatorial fights:
Present Governors who are against Trump administration’s offshore plans
In the past, all the governors along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts have opposed Trump administration’s offshore drilling plan. Among the present Governors who are against Trump administration’s offshore drilling plan on their coasts are the leaders of California, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Washington, and Oregon. Quite a lot.
Gubernatorial Elections 2018 – Which candidates have decided to take up the bipartisan battle on the issue?
Candidates in four key East Coast areas – Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Maine are opposing Trump administration’s plans to drill for oil and gas off their states’ coasts:
Georgia
Present Governor: Nathan Deal
Running for Reelection: No
Gubernatorial Primary Passed: Yes
Unlike other governors on the West and East coasts, Nathan Deal hasn’t yet opened up about his stance on the Trump administration’s offshore plan. Environmentalists say that in the upcoming elections they will include the issue in a questionnaire and will certainly be supporting a governor who doesn’t avoid the question. Georgia came in the spotlight when State House Minority Leader, Stacey Abrams, won the Democratic Party’s nomination, putting her just a few steps away to be the first black female governor in the US. However, as far as offshore drilling issue is concerned, no candidate has openly spoken on the issue. Just one contender, Michael Williams, opened up on the issue. Supporting offshore drilling plans, he said that Republicans have fought for offshore drilling and it has the potential to make the US world energy leader.
Florida
Present Governor: Rick Scott
Running for Reelection: Yes
Gubernatorial Primary Passed: Yes
Florida has been blessed with pristine beaches, coasts, and the environment, so protecting the state’s environment has always been a chief campaign issue for both the parties. All of the candidates mention climate change as an important issue on their campaign website. The Democratic party candidate, Andrew Gillum, has even gone on record stating that he considers offshore drilling hazardous to the environment and economy and that he plans to put an end to it if he comes to power. For the Republican candidates, the campaign issues are mostly tied to immigration reform, gun rights, education and religious freedom, although they say they are committed to protecting Florida’s sensitive shorelines. U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis said in an interview in January that he supports energy exploration but will be fighting to protect Florida’s coastline.
South Carolina
Present governor: Henry McMaster
Running for Reelection: No
South Carolina is among the regions identified by Zinke as a potential gas play. The present governor and Republican candidate McMaster has opposed drilling of his state’s pristine coastline citing that it would be detrimental to the local tourism and fishing operations. On the other hand, McMaster’s Republican opponents have expressed interest in exploring South Carolina’s offshore gas potential. His Democratic challengers are all standing against the Trump administration’s offshore proposal. Attorney Marguerite Willis and state Rep. James Smith have pledged to wield their respective expertise against Trump’s plan.
Maine
Present governor: Paul LePage
Running for Reelection: No
Environmental groups are eager to replace the present governor, LePage, who supports offshore drilling and considers global warming a possible boon for human beings. All of the Democratic candidates are against the leasing proposal, calling it dangerous and backward. During an early April primary debate, three of the four Republican candidates expressed their concern against offshore drilling. However, one candidate – Mary Mayhew – appeared to be in favor of the proposal.
The talk of opening up the protected coastline to energy exploration, despite there already being more than 40 million acres for development along the outer continental shelf (OCS) of the United States, has become an important issue for the upcoming governor elections.
