Climate Cabinet Announces New Round of Endorsements Ahead of City and State Elections in Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia
Climate Cabinet Announces New Round of Endorsements Ahead of City and State Elections in Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia
Climate Cabinet Action (CCA), a national organization helping local leaders run, win, and legislate on climate change, today announced a new wave of endorsements ahead of critical state and city elections in Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia. In order to fight the climate crisis, this early support is needed to build grassroots momentum and secure a “W” in these contested elections. Climate Cabinet’s endorsement today helps candidates achieve this goal and puts climate champions one step closer to fighting the most existential threat of our lifetimes.
Specifically for Virginia’s state legislative contests, first-time elected leaders will make up about a third of the Virginia General Assembly at the start of the 2024 legislative session – making this fall’s elections the most consequential climate elections in recent memory for the state. These campaigns will determine the balance of power in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate where a pro-climate majority is necessary to stop Governor Glenn Youngkin’s anti-climate agenda in Richmond.
The following climate champions from Virginia received Climate Cabinet’s latest endorsement:
Victoria Luevanos – Virginia State Senate – District 20
Susanna Gibson – Virginia State House – District 57
Karl Frisch – Fairfax County School Board – Providence District
Idris O’Connor – Prince William County Board of Supervisors – Coles District
Additionally, these climate champions also received Climate Cabinet’s endorsement:
Juan Pablo Jaramillo – Revere City Council – At-Large (Massachusetts)
Robin Wonsley – Minneapolis City Council – Ward 2
Diane Salvatore – New Jersey State Assembly District 25
Matt Hughes – Hillsborough Board of Commissioners – At-Large (North Carolina)
Taral Patel – Fort Bend County Commissioner – Precinct 3
“Early support for state and local candidates is the key to their success at the polls and leads to action on key issues like climate change, and that’s how Climate Cabinet Action started. We are throwing our support behind climate champions in these key elections, because they will deliver a punch against the climate crisis the moment they take office. This includes candidates in the Commonwealth, who will secure the pro-climate majorities needed to end Governor Glenn Youngkin’s anti-climate agenda once and for all,” said Caroline Spears, executive director of Climate Cabinet Action.
All political eyes will be on Virginia this fall, because it is the most consequential climate election in recent state history. During the 2023 legislative session, the Virginia Senate’s pro-climate majority stood up to Governor Glenn Youngkin who preferred cozying up to fossil fuel companies and their special interests. This included successfully killing legislation to repeal the state’s Clean Car Standards and stopping efforts to block local clean energy electrification. Winning a pro-climate majority in either chamber ends Governor Youngkin’s anti-climate agenda for good, and Climate Cabinet will ensure that happens in November.
Spears added, “Legislative sessions across the country this year foreshadowed what we know will happen on the campaign trail if voters don’t support climate champions at the ballot box: Anti-climate politicians will wield misinformation to grind action against the climate crisis to a halt. All hands are on deck, and Climate Cabinet will support candidates who value creating new clean energy jobs and lowering pollution in our neighborhoods as their top priority.”
There are 500,000 state and local elected officials across America, but state and local elections are often overlooked and underfunded. To solve this, Climate Cabinet scours thousands of down-ballot elections across the country to find the candidates who are leading climate champions for their communities. Then, CCA helps these candidates run, win, and legislate on climate.
This work speaks for itself. This spring, CCA was the only climate organization to support Yemi Mobolade’s historic campaign for Mayor of Colorado Springs. Yemi’s win paved the way for a climate-first agenda in a historically conservative city. Additionally, Climate Cabinet’s won 100% of its “Climate Slate” candidates in the 2023 Virginia primary elections. In 2022, eight of CCA’s nine “Climate Slate” champions won election in Minnesota – flipping the state senate to a pro-climate majority for the first time in a decade. This led to Minnesota becoming the 12th state to legislate on 100% clean electricity standards. Also, CCA helped “Climate Slate” leader Davante Lewis win election for Public Service Commissioner, knocking out an incumbent backed by fossil fuel companies and its special interests.
Why Climate Cabinet Gave These Climate Champions an Endorsement:
Victoria Luevanos – Virginia State Senate – District 20
Climate protections are at risk in the 2023 Virginia legislative elections with the possibility of climate laws being decimated by a Republican majority. Victoria Luevanos views climate protection as one of her top priorities and can help make this year a positive year for climate in Virginia rather than a destructive one.
Susanna Gibson – Virginia State House – District 57
As a health expert, Susanna Gibson recognizes the significant risks of climate change on public health and the importance of smart climate policy. If elected, Susanna plans to promote and expand renewable energy sources as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. She sees the economic benefits of renewable energy as the least cost form of energy generation. Susanna also plans to employ bipartisan support on environmental policies by emphasizing technologies that will not only mitigate climate change but also create new job opportunities in emerging markets.
Karl Frisch – Fairfax County School Board – Providence District
During his time on the school board, Karl Frisch supported and proposed important climate legislation for his district, such as committing to achieve carbon neutrality in all operations by 2040 and zero waste by 2030. Similarly, he co-sponsored policy for the district’s first solar power initiatives and the transition of the school buses to electric. Karl serves on the Joint Environmental Task Force and environmental justice is a top priority for him. If re-elected, Karl will continue to work hard to serve his community and expand sustainable practices to protect the environment.
Idris O’Connor – Prince William County Board of Supervisors – Coles District
Protecting the environment has always been a priority in Idris O’Connor’s public service. He has hosted multiple clean-up projects, advocated for increasing the number of solar panels in the community, and has done a lot of work through the GPWCAN to reduce greenhouse gasses, pollution, and to promote conservation efforts in Prince William County. Idris plans to provide funding to the Sustainability Commission which will help make the county 100% renewable by 2035. Idris O’Connor is dedicated to promoting environmental health and helping his constituents.
Juan Pablo Jaramillo – Revere City Council – At-Large (Massachusetts)
Juan Pablo Jaramillo has the necessary experience and dedication to serve his community well with a focus on climate work. As a coastal city, ensuring policy that protects the environment and the community from climate disasters is critical. Juan will work to prioritize sustainable practices such as investing in renewable energy, reducing waste, and improving the city’s resilience to natural disasters. If elected, Juan will be the only councilmember with a background working in climate organizations.
Robin Wonsley – Minneapolis City Council Ward 2
Robin Wonsley has a proven track record voting for pro-climate and environmental justice policies. She co-authored a Ship It Zero Resolution and advanced a Pollution Control Annual Registration fee, both of which protected communities of color from harmful emissions. She is a proud champion of the People’s Climate & Equity Fund, which helps to invest in minority communities that are affected by climate change. She will also continue her work to permanently close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center trash burner, one of the single largest sources of pollution in Minnesota. Robin Wonsley is an experienced and passionate representative that works hard to protect the environment and her constituents.
Diane Salvatore – New Jersey State Assembly District 25
Throughout her career, Diane Salvatore has written award-winning pieces on environmental issues such as plastic pollution, PFAS, soil pollution, and problems with ineffective recycling. If elected, she would support effective climate policy that expands clean energy investments, preserve parks, forests, and beaches, and incentivize lower emissions for businesses and individuals. Diane has also committed to being an active partner with Christine Clarke and Jonathan Torres Climate Cabinet endorsed candidates for New Jersey State Senate.
Matt Hughes – Hillsborough Board of Commissioners – At-Large (North Carolina)
In his time on the board of commissioners, Matt Hughes has been supportive of the current clean energy plan which says to have 100% of town operations on clean energy by 2050, and 80% by the end of this decade. He is a leader in passing the first ever Comprehensive Sustainability Plan which will guide the county in growing sustainably and combating climate change at the local level. Matt acknowledges the environmental justice issues relating to water and sewer services in areas with the highest number of BIPOC residents. He has helped steer state and federal resources to the community to do critical upgrades and repairs, and will continue to work to improve the quality of life and the environmental health of his community as a member of the Board of Commissioners.
Taral Patel – Fort Bend County Commissioner – Precinct 3
Taral Patel has the right values and experience to focus on climate related policy and help make policy decisions with the environment in mind. Taral has already worked to electrify Fort Bend’s fleet, install energy sensing equipment, and invest in more solar powered options. He has advocated for climate investments in underserved communities in Fort Bend, and he plans on becoming 100% renewable by 2035. Sustainability and environment are high in his list of priorities, and if elected he will make Fort Bend the first Green County in Texas.
###
About Climate Cabinet Action: Down-ballot elections – including state legislative and municipal elections – are too often under-funded and ignored by the average voter. Enter: Climate Cabinet Action, a national organization helping local leaders run, win, and legislate on climate change. Climate Cabinet is a national organization that targets state and local elections that would provide the greatest “return on investment” in the fight against climate change and helps those candidates win at the ballot box. From critical funding to field or communications services, Climate Cabinet provides pro-climate candidates the tools they need to succeed in elections. Learn more by visiting www.climateslate.com.
Subscribe to Climate Cabinet’s newsletter: https://www.climatecabinetaction.org/#Subscribe
Follow Climate Cabinet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Climate_AF
