Yesterday’s election was a milestone for our progress and the possibilities of what can happen in 2020 if we continue to fight to protect our democracy, elect environmental champions, and build power across the state and nation to urge our elected leaders to take bold action on climate change.
While we are a non-partisan organization, some of these partisan wins will have a significant impact on our collective progress on climate change:
In California, our local leagues and community partners won a few victories:
- The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters endorsed several candidates with promising results last night
- The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) supported three candidates who were elected to the Riverside City Council in a surprising and unprecedented victory!
Meanwhile, nationwide, last night’s election returns also presented a bit of hope and inspiration for our movement.
Here are some quick highlights:
- In Virginia, both state houses flipped to Democratic control and elected the first Muslim ever in the Legislature. Many of these newly elected legislators were supportive of a Green New Deal in the last two elections, which will have an impact on changing what’s possible in Virginia.
- In Kentucky, Democratic candidate Andy Beshear defeated the incumbent Republican Governor Matt Bevin. What’s most notable about this race is Beshear ran on a clean energy platform and focused his message on transitioning coal workers and their families to new industries.
- In Arizona, Tucson city council candidate Regina Romero, who also ran on addressing climate change, was elected as the first Latina mayor!
- In New York, a state with some of the worst voting rights and voting access laws in the nation, passed a ranked-choice voting initiative for local and special elections, demonstrating the movement for increased voter engagement and access.
Our work is not done. But what’s evident is the environment won the night and those who continue to deny what’s happening and refuse to act on it will continue to lose, even when Big Oil and special interests outspend us. Voters across the nation are responding well and urgently to our message: impacts of our climate crisis are happening, and the time to act is now. What’s more, candidates who embrace clean energy and environmental policies and solutions, like the Green New Deal, win. What’s next to come is our hands.
We can keep last night’s momentum going and change what’s possible for climate action by expanding the right to vote, by making our voices heard through the ballot box, and by electing candidates who can turn their victories into real policy change. These acts are critical to our work at home and our role in leading our nation’s fight against the climate crisis.
It’s time to be bolder in our call for climate action.
Last night’s election was a monumental step towards where we need to go, and with your support, we will continue to create the political will to make bold climate action happen in 2020 and beyond. What we’re doing is working, so let’s keep building.
We won’t stop until we touch every part of our environment, economy, and infrastructure.
Thank you for being a part of this movement.
