Major green group backs Dem Murphy in Florida Senate race

A major environmental group on Tuesday endorsed Rep. Patrick Murphy (Fla.) ahead of his Democratic primary for Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) seat.

{mosads}The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, the advocacy group’s campaign arm, praised Murphy’s commitment to dealing with climate change and his support for the landmark United Nations Paris climate deal, which was signed by President Obama earlier this year.

“Patrick Murphy has strongly and consistently supported climate action, protection for our coast and water … and is the only candidate who can defeat climate science denier Marco Rubio and provide Florida with a strong environmental voice in the U.S. Senate,” Tiernan Sittenfeld, LCV Action Fund senior vice president of government affairs, said on a press call.

Sittenfeld took aim at Rubio’s environmental record and the 2016 GOP presidential contender’s future political ambitions.

“The contrasts of Sen. Rubio’s corporate polluter agenda could not be more stark,” she said. “Florida is already suffering the impacts of climate change, and we simply cannot afford to give Rubio another four years in the Senate before he decides to run for president again.”

But Murphy must first face a heated primary against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.).

He thanked the group for its support and vowed to expand the use of alternate energies like wind and solar if elected to the Senate.

“Climate change is a real threat, and Florida is directly impacted,” Murphy said on the call. “In the Senate, I will work to diversify our energy portfolio by supporting green energy innovation and incentivizing wind and solar and looking at all types of alternative energy.”

LCV Action Fund has backed other Democratic Senate candidates in battleground states and also endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for president.

Voters head to the polls on Aug. 30 for the primary.

Grayson has faced pressure to drop out of the race, particularly after domestic abuse allegations emerged from the liberal firebrand’s ex-wife.

Rubio also faces a primary challenge from wealthy businessman Carlos Beruff. Beruff has aligned himself with GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and has been pouring millions of his own dollars into the campaign. Rubio, though, is expected to advance to the general.

The likely match-up between Murphy and Rubio will be a tough battle for a seat that could be pivotal in determining which party controls the Senate next year.

Rubio is currently ahead in polls.

Democrats need to net five seats — or four seats and retain the White House — to gain control of the upper chamber. They only need to defend 10 seats, while Republicans must defend 24 seats.