OAKLAND, CA — Today, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) and the Elect Climate Champions Fund released the following statement on the current primary election results. Californians overwhelmingly voted for candidates who will protect our climate future.
Statement from Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer, California Environmental Voters:
“Despite being outspent ten to one, we beat back Big Oil in the toughest fights in the state. In the last few weeks, corporate polluters pushed over $8 million into key legislative races, clearly trying to sidestep our recent winning strategy of using their spending against them by pulling the curtain for voters on who the oil-backed candidates are.
This last-minute push highlights that they know their money is toxic in politics, especially with the number of legislators directly taking oil contributions dropping from 63% in 2022 to 52% in 2023. Candidates know 79% of voters across party lines are more likely to support elected officials that don’t take oil and gas money.
In Central Valley battleground districts, pro-climate justice candidates Rhodesia Ransom (AD-13) and Jerry McNerney (SD-5) beat out oil-funded Democrats for the future of California politics. In LA, Sasha Renée Pérez (SD-25) and Nick Schultz (AD-44) are climate champions leading in their races despite being grossly outspent. With Laura Friedman (CA-30), Luz Rivas (CA-29), and Gil Ciscneros’ congressional wins (CA-31), California is poised to send the strongest environmental leadership class to the House of Representatives ever.
A majority of climate leaders are heading into the general election, but we have a lot of work to do before November. Big wins don’t happen alone — and we’re grateful to our partners this cycle: the Consumer Attorneys of California, UFCW, SEIU, the Black Caucus, the Progressive Caucus, and the Women’s Caucus. When we come together to defeat corporate polluters, we win.”
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CONTACT:
Erika Guzman Cornejo
310-755-1615
erika@envirovoters.org
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ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
