washington u.s. voters pick climate change advocate handful gubernatorial state legislature race tuesday provide potential boost state-level efforts fight global warm carbon trade scheme democratic-led state local governments already promise act counterweight administration president donald trump seek unwind climate change regulations deem costly remove unite state global pact reduce emissions democrat phil murphy race tuesday night succeed new jersey outgo republican governor chris christie murphy run platform include pledge immediately restore new jersey place regional greenhouse gas initiative rggi northeast carbon market christie withdraw 2011. virginia democrat ralph northam defeat republican ed gillespe pledge carry outgo democratic governor terry mcauliffe executive directive reduce carbon emissions allow virginia become trading-ready rggi chair katie dyke say officials communicate virginia develop greenhouse gas regulations welcome potential dialogue new jersey washington state victory democrat manka dhingra state senate district flip control legislature democrats boost democratic governor jay inslee plan join california quebec ontario carbon trade scheme rggi western state carbon market form decade ago help develop market-based approach reduce greenhouse gas emissions addition virginia new jersey rggi would significant 2016 new jersey emit 22.1 million short tons carbon dioxide co2 virginia emit 38 million rggi current nine state emit 90 million short tons 2016. rggi hold quarterly auction carbon permit yield 2.8 billion proceed date intend use finance clean energy energy efficiency project environmental advocate say state-level developments could help counter trump administration seek revive u.s. coal industry roll back environmental protections enact democratic former president barack obama see grow momentum climate action state level say jackson morris official natural resources defense council white house official immediately respond request comment democratic win u.s. state elections boost hop carbon trade