How It Works
Since 1973, California Environmental Voters has released the annual California Environmental Scorecard, grading the California Legislature and California leadership (Governor, Pro-Tem, and Speaker) on their environmental and climate actions from the prior legislative year.
How Legislators Are Scored
Scores are shown as a percentage that reflect the legislator’s pro-environmental votes, with extra credit awarded for major pro-environmental actions and points deducted for major anti-environmental actions in the prior year. Legislators who were a primary or principal co-author of a Scorecard bill receive a +1% to their score, and any legislator who was not a primary author or principal co-author of a Scorecard bill receives a -1%. Legislators who accepted oil money in the last six years have 5% deducted from their score—see the Oil Money section below for more details.
How the Governor Is Scored
The Governor’s score is 75% based on the rate of environmental bills signed or vetoed and 25% on California’s overall score.* Extra credit is awarded for major pro-environmental actions, while points are deducted for major anti-environmental actions by the Governor.
How the Assembly Speaker Is Scored
The Speaker of the Assembly plays a key role in prioritizing climate and passing climate bills. Therefore, their score is 75% based on their voting record, 15% on the Assembly Democratic Caucus’ average score, and 10% on California’s score.*
How the Senate Pro Tem Is Scored
The Senate Pro Tem plays a key role in prioritizing climate and passing climate bills. Therefore, their score is 75% based on their voting record, 15% on the Senate Democratic Caucus’ average score, and 10% on California’s score.*
How Committees Are Scored
Scores are shown as a percentage that reflect the committees’ pro-environmental votes out of the Scorecard bills that went through their committee.
*California’s overall score now impacts the scores of key leadership by 5% more than previous years to reflect the increased urgency for climate action.
Oil Money Marks
Big Oil’s campaign contributions hold political influence, so it is critical the public knows which legislators accept this money and which elected leaders reject it to hold Big Oil accountable for its role in the climate crisis.
In the 2025 Scorecard, every legislator who accepted money from oil companies or from major oil industry Political Action Committees (PACs) in the last six years receives an oil money mark on their page. Legislators who accepted oil money in recent election cycles (two years for Assemblymembers, four years for Senators) have 5% deducted from their score.
Oil Money Free Badges
Every legislator who has refused to take oil money within the last six years will receive this Oil Money Free badge to applaud them for resisting the influence of this extractive, exploitative industry power.
Other Legislator Badges
Members of the Climate Action Caucus are environmental champions fighting for bold policy change to address the climate crisis who deserve special recognition for their leadership in 2025.
Members of the Polluter Caucus have refused to support—and often even actively worked against—climate policies, as well as authored anti-environment bills. These legislators are responsible for delaying climate progress in 2025.
This badge represents legislators who EnviroVoters has named to the Climate Action Caucus in previous Scorecards and continue to lead as climate champions.
How to Use the Scorecard
Here is where you come in. Look up your legislators on the Scorecard—see how they voted and if they have an oil money mark. Then contact your representatives to tell them what you think of their score and why it matters to you that they vote for climate justice.
Don’t underestimate our collective power as individuals. When the people of California make their voices heard, our policies better reflect our state’s priorities.
