NEW JERSEY LCV MAKES MARK IN LOCAL ELECTIONS AND HELPS MOBILIZE VOTERS

Trenton, NJ – For the first time, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (New Jersey LCV) made endorsements at the local level, backing a diverse group of 28 bipartisan candidates, nearly a third are people of color and 40% are women. The purpose was to elect pro-environment candidates in cities, towns, and counties throughout the state who can make protections for our air, water, open space, and clean energy a priority.

“We usually concentrate on state-level elections, but we know that when it comes to climate action, safeguarding drinking water, reducing flooding, advancing environmental justice, and preserving open space and parks, a lot of the decisions are made at the local level,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey LCV. “We want candidates in local offices who understand what’s at stake in their communities and are committed to taking action. It’s critical that strong pro-conservation candidates get support and amplification – because they know committing to protecting our environment is a winning issue.”

Separately, the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund worked to mobilize underrepresented voters whose voices have historically been excluded from the elections. Over the past couple of months New Jersey LCV Education Fund conducted an extensive civic engagement initiative to ensure that people throughout New Jersey, and specifically low-propensity Black and Brown voters, have all the information they need and are encouraged to vote.

“We see higher rates of asthma, heart disease, and other associated illnesses in communities of color because they suffer the most from environmental injustice,” said Patty Cronheim, Director of Campaigns, New Jersey LCV. “Over 300 municipalities in New Jersey have experienced historically systematic pollution of their air, water, and open spaces. This election, at its core, is all about improving the lives of everyone in overburdened communities.”

New Jersey LCV Education Fund Voter Mobilization Initiative by the Numbers:

• Made 40,000 calls
• Sent 100,000 text messages
• Created an animated video narrated by Danny DeVito, including a Spanish version, that earned over 200,000 views
• Developed 3 digital ads reaching over 55,000 in targeted demographic

New Jersey LCV encourages everyone to vote.  If you did not mail in your ballot, go in person to the polls. For more information about voting go to Vote.NJ.Gov