According to a Washington Examiner report, Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign has recruited a former staffer from a climate organization linked to efforts against gas stoves.
Camila Thorndike, who previously worked for Rewiring America, has been appointed Harris's campaign's "climate engagement director."
Thorndike, who describes herself as a "climate hype girl for democracy," announced her new role on social media. Her previous employer, Rewiring America, has been at the center of controversy due to its connection to a study linking gas stoves to childhood asthma, which gained traction among progressive circles and caught the attention of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
The study that Thorndike's former organization was associated with led to discussions about potential gas stove bans. It prompted the Department of Energy to propose new efficiency standards for gas stoves, expected to take effect in 2028.
While the latest version of the DOE rule is less stringent than initially proposed, some gas stove models are still required to improve energy efficiency. This move has faced opposition from Republican attorneys general and energy advocacy groups, who argue it overreaches into the free market.
The hiring of Thorndike raises questions about the potential climate policies of a Harris administration. Critics suggest it could signal a continuation or even intensification of the current administration's environmental agenda.
Daniel Turner, founder of Power the Future, an energy advocacy group, expressed skepticism about Harris's stance on environmental issues. He stated:
Though anonymous campaign staffers have claimed Harris has reversed her green positions on everything from fracking to plastic straw bans, the candidate herself has said nothing. We don't need her words. Her actions say everything. Hiring climate radicals and claiming in her lone CNN interview 'my values haven't changed' tell us she will prolong the stupid, misguided, China-friendly climate agenda of the Biden administration despite the economic hardship it has caused American families.
Republicans have consistently criticized the Biden-Harris administration's climate policies, arguing they hinder economic growth and energy independence. The appointment of Thorndike is likely to fuel further scrutiny from pro-fossil fuel groups and GOP members.
Rewiring America, Thorndike's former employer, has ties to the current administration beyond the gas stove controversy. The organization was involved in negotiations for Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and has been recognized by the Department of Energy and the White House for its climate initiatives.
Thorndike held various positions at Rewiring America, including director of policy programs and senior public engagement director. Her background also includes work with Senator Bernie Sanders, and she has been vocal about the urgency of addressing climate change.
Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance trade group, predicts that a Harris administration would maintain the current administration's regulatory approach to energy. She stated, "We fully expect that a Harris-Walz administration would continue the exact same policies of the Biden-Harris administration."
In her LinkedIn announcement about joining the Harris campaign, Thorndike praised the Vice President as "our future climate champion-in-chief." This endorsement suggests that climate issues will likely play a significant role in Harris's presidential campaign strategy.
The appointment of Thorndike to the Harris campaign team underscores the ongoing debate over climate policy in American politics. It reflects the tension between environmental concerns and economic considerations, a balance that will undoubtedly be a key issue in the upcoming presidential election. As the campaign progresses, voters will be watching closely to see how Harris addresses these complex and often controversial environmental policies.
