Both vice presidential candidates are from the Great Lakes. What will that mean for the region?

"It goes to show that the path to the White House really does start and stop in the Great Lakes region," said Mark Fisher, CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region.

No matter the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the country will have a vice president from the Great Lakes region. And whether or not any part of Tuesday's vice presidential debate touches on the subject, the selections of Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota sent a clear message: the Great Lakes matter.

Three of the seven swing states likely deciding this election are Great Lakes states. Together, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania carry 44 electoral votes. The Great Lakes are North America's freshwater stronghold, holding more than 20% of the world's surface freshwater. The region is also an economic engine , touting a combined domestic gross product so large it would be the third-largest economy in the world if it were a country.

As waters with many uses – drinking to growing food to manufacturing goods to recreating and fishing – the Great Lakes are one of the few places that garner bipartisan support. Many regional organizations hope that having someone who understands the region will be a benefit, leading to smart funding and policy decisions that support environmental and economic interests.

"We need real leadership that acknowledges that our water is precious, it's irreplaceable and it's a privilege to be here and use it," said Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Both candidates represent the Great Lakes at high levels.

Vance is co-chair on the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, a bipartisan group of lawmakers that works to enhance the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes.

As governor of one of the eight Great Lakes states, Walz is a member of the Great Lakes Compact Council that deals with the water use and diversions under the Great Lakes Compact. Walz is also a member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers , an organization that works on environmental and economic issues throughout the region.

So, what are the region's biggest successes and challenges? And how have Vance and Walz advocated for the Great Lakes region? Here's what to know.

Federal funding is key to reversing past mistakes

While freshwater may be the defining feature of the Great Lakes region, the second is likely how the eight states — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York — have worked together to fix problems of the past. And that's come with a lot of help from the federal government

Federal funding has been key to cleaning up legacy pollution, restoring habitat, updating unsafe drinking water infrastructure and safeguarding fisheries from invasive carp.

A prime example is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative , a federal funding program that has helped clean up pollution and restore habitats across the states. The program has invested more than $4.1 billion across roughly 8,100 projects since its inception in 2010.

The funding program is like working on a home, said Greg McClinchey, the director of policy and legislative affairs at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a U.S.-Canada organization that works to protect fisheries in the region. Maintenance has to be done along the way otherwise it will just fall apart. Complacency is the region's biggest threat, McClinchey said.

In 2022, the funding program received a billion-dollar boost under the Biden administration to speed the cleanup of the region's most polluted places, known as areas of concern . Milwaukee is one such place benefitting from this boost.

Earlier this year, Vance co-sponsored the bill to reauthorize funding for the program from 2027 to 2031. The bill includes a $25 million increase from fiscal year 2026.

But during his presidency, Trump called for slashing funding to the popular bipartisan program three years in a row. Trump's 2020 budget plan would have gutted the program by 90% from $300 million to $30 million, inflaming Great Lakes Republicans and Democrats alike.

Each time, Trump ultimately reversed course, signing spending bills that restored full funding for the cleanup program.

Climate change brings new challenges

Scientists agree that human activity is the primary driver of climate change, specifically greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use. More than half of Americans say that climate change should be a priority for the next president and Congress, according to a 2023 survey by Yale Climate Communications.

People who live in the Great Lakes region are expected to see heavy rainfall as well as big swings in extreme weather events. Too much water at once can cause flooding, create health issues, overload water treatment infrastructure and exacerbate pollution in waterways.

Cities in the region are dealing with a lack of attention and investment over the years, said Brenda Coley, co-executive director of Milwaukee Water Commons. "We are at the point of no return, it has to be done now," she said.

And because climate change disproportionately impacts communities facing economic and racial marginalization, Coley said, "We need to make sure we don't leave anyone behind."

Vance flip-flopped on climate change, prioritizes fossil fuel interests

Climate change was absent from the Republican 2024 platform. Instead, it championed lifting restrictions on oil, natural gas and coal, and includes the line: "We will DRILL, BABY, DRILL."

Vance has flipped completely on the issue.

In 2020, two years before he took his Senate seat, he told a crowd at The Ohio State University that society has a " climate problem ." Vance said that part of the reason is because we are not generating cleaner energy, and that natural gas is not "going to take us into a clean energy future."

Since he became a senator, the Ohio Republican has dismissed climate concerns, championed drilling and fracking, and prioritized fossil fuel interests. Vance also said that action on climate change is "dumb" and "does nothing for the environment."

Vance has been highly critical of the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, which is the largest climate legislation ever passed. Funding from the climate legislation is slated to bring thousands of jobs to Vance's hometown of Middleton, Ohio.

Walz supported climate action, but toes the line on extractive industries

Climate change, climate solutions, clean energy and environmental justice were front and center in the Democratic 2024 platform .

Walz has been heralded a climate champion. Last year, he signed a law in Minnesota that requires electricity to be 100% carbon-free by 2040.

In the region, only Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania have not yet committed to a future of clean electricity either by law or executive order.

However, environmental groups and tribes have been highly critical of the Walz administration over its handling of Enbridge's Line 3 project. The Canadian crude oil transportation company replaced an aging part of the existing pipeline that was considered a spill risk.

The new pipeline, which went online in 2021, not only represents a commitment to continue the use of fossil fuels, but it goes through land where Ojibwe tribes have treaty protected rights — a long-running and bitter controversy. Several aquifers were breached during its construction.

Pollution threatens the most valuable resource

Excess nutrients, pesticides, microplastics and "forever chemicals" are just some of the many pollutants tainting the region's waterways.

And while the region is working hard to clean up some of the most contaminated areas of industrial pollution, agriculture pollution is still "the most under-regulated source of pollution in the region," Brammeier said.

Agriculture runoff brings excess nutrients from fertilizers and manure into nearby waterways, which can incite harmful algae blooms, a public health risk.

"We desperately need better federal leadership on dealing with the reality that it's a major source of pollution that is still getting worse," Brammeier said.

Vance called for action after train derailment

Since he took office, Vance has made the East Palestine train derailment and environmental disaster a top priority .

In February 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed carrying thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals due to a defective wheel. Traces of pollution scattered across 16 states , spanning Wisconsin to Maine to South Carolina.

Vance has pushed for aggressive government and industry response. The Ohio senator co-authored a bipartisan bill that mandates new safety standards and fines for the rail sector, especially those carrying hazardous materials. Some say his presence in East Palestine was a move to cement his status as a champion for rural conservatives.

However, since then, Vance has also quietly delayed reforms on his rail legislation after receiving pressure from lobbyists, as reported by The Lever.

At a rally in Minnesota, Trump vowed to reverse a Biden administration mining ban that halted a project upstream of the Boundary Waters, and said he would boost the mining industry in the state. Projects are controversial in a water-rich region because metallic mining releases more toxic chemicals than any other industry.

Walz took on industrial, agricultural pollution

In recent years, Walz has signed a number of laws to tackle industrial and agricultural pollution.

He signed into law the first-ever sweeping ban on toxic "forever chemicals." This toxic class of compounds, known as PFAS, are ubiquitous in household products, cosmetics, clothing and firefighting foam. They linked to many health problems, like cancer; and do not break down in the environment.

The Minnesota company 3M was the first to manufacture these chemicals.

Walz also has signed a law that offers strong protections for diverse and low-income communities suffering from cumulative impacts of pollution. He's also championed sustainable farming practices that promote soil health and the biofuel industry.

However, environmentalists have been critical of some of Walz's moves when it comes to mining, saying he hasn't gone far enough to protect water resources like Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota.

Challenges with shipping and trade persist

From the 17th century fur trade to present day, the Great Lakes have been an economic hub.

About 30% of the economic activity in the U.S. and Canada takes place in the region, and more than 200 million tons of cargo are shipped each year. While the benefits of trade are numerous, it's hard to talk about trade without considering some of the negative impact it had on the lakes, McClinchey, with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, said.

Many invasive species have been introduced into the lakes through ballast water.

Ballast water is stored on a cargo ship to help maintain the ship's stability and maneuverability when there isn't a full load. Aquatic organisms can hitchhike in this water, and be introduced when the water is released at a new port. Invasive zebra and quagga mussels were introduced this way.

There needs to be tougher ballast water regulations to safeguard the regions' fisheries, McClinchey said.

"If you can stop them before they come in, you don't have to spend millions of dollars a year controlling them," McClinchey said.

Great Lakes tribes play important election role

During the 2020 presidential election, both Trump and Biden contended for Native votes during the 2020 presidential election. These efforts paid off for Biden in crucial swing states, like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Arizona.

Great Lakes tribes, especially in the key swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan, may have an important role to play in selecting the next administration. There are 23 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Biden appointed Deb Haaland to the Department of the Interior, the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. One of the actions that her office has taken has been to rename sites on federal lands that have been offensive to Indigenous people.

Under the Biden administration, the federal government has made a lot of strides in consulting with tribes when it comes to the environment, said Jen Vanator, Great Lakes program coordinator at the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

But there is room for improvement, Vanator said. Engaging with tribes needs to come earlier in the process so that input can be fully considered before a decision is made on a project, she said, which is something tribal leaders have also sought . The push for clean energy is a special concern, Vanator said, because many proposed mines sit close to tribal lands or within their watersheds.

Vance has rebuffed Indigenous concerns

Vance opposed renaming Wayne National Forest in Ohio. Anthony Wayne is considered a Revolutionary War soldier and statesman, but he also was celebrated as an "Indian fighter" and led a battle that ultimately resulted in the displacement of Indigenous tribes from their homeland. Vance referred to the land as "occupied enemy territory," which Indigenous people understood as him referring to them as the enemy.

The Ohio senator also disparaged the celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day as well, calling it "fake."

Walz has improved relations with tribes

Walz was the first Minnesota governor to visit with all 11 federally recognized tribes that live in the state, and signed a bill codifying tribal consultation into state law.

Many tribal leaders across the state have applauded Walz for improving government relations with tribes, honoring tribal sovereignty, and passing legislation to improve the well-being of Indigenous people.

Walz has appointed Indigenous people to key leadership positions, like Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation, and University of Minnesota Board of Regents member Tadd Johnson, a member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

The Democratic vice presidential candidate also championed the redesign of the Minnesota flag to get rid of a design considered insensitive to Indigenous communities.

Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Reach her at or follow her on X .

Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at jsonline.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.