The first organizations that came out to support my candidacy were clear this was going to be a climate campaign. The leadership of the ELM Action Fund in that space, really pulling together Sierra Club and Sunrise and the activist energy on the ground, to say ‘we are teaming up.’ That has already given me so much wind in the first seven months to make changes.

As a candidate running for state office for the first time, it was inspiring to see ELM’s willingness to jump into our race in Haverhill. To illustrate ELM’s tenacity and impact – the first time I met Joe in person was while he was already out in the field with a packet of doors to knock on for our campaign. Environmental justice and the economic gains of green energy were vital components of mobilizing people in our campaign. We couldn’t have successfully pushed that message without ELMs digital, mail, and canvassing support.

I am extremely grateful to the Environmental League of Massachusetts for providing resources on the ground and online to further my message during the campaign. We were thrilled to receive an extensive social media campaign via sponsored ads and original digital media that directly reached ELM members in district. During “Get Out the Vote” and “E-Day”, ELM sent their staff to knock on doors when it mattered the most despite numerous elections occurring statewide. Thank you, ELM!

The ELM endorsement served a strong third party validator of my campaign pledge to protect and preserve Easthampton’s environmental assets. Specifically, the ELM mailer lent credibility to my commitment to sustainable development and transportation while protecting open space. With the ELM team knocking doors with me, I was able to expand the range of voter contact at the doors. In my race, every single vote counted and I have no doubt that my win was helped by ELM’s hands-on, real-time support of my candidacy.

I am so thankful for the support of the ELM Action Fund and its members in my primary campaign for State Representative. I am passionate about energy policy and environmental protection, and as a first-time candidate the support from ELM Action Fund was monumental, including support on issues and messaging, strategic advice, voter contact through a member mailing and volunteer phone banking, and even GOTV election day support. I am so proud to have ELM Action Fund behind me as I continue on to a competitive general election, and to know that they’re out there fighting all over the state.

The endorsement I received from the Environmental League of MA this past campaign cycle has meant the world to me and made a true difference in the campaign. I was honored to have their “stamp of approval”, but the team went several steps further in reaching out to like minded voters in my district with letters, phone calls, and actual boots on the ground. For a district so far from Boston, this is very unusual and highly valued. I know that I will work hard to keep the endorsement of ELM, not just because we are natural allies in advancing policy, but also because they clearly have my back.

One of the most effective aspects of our campaign was that voters heard from people they trusted on issues they cared about. One of the most successful efforts was by ELM, who called people concerned about the environment. When they personally told voters about my work, it was extremely convincing. A trusted source was affirming that I have worked on issues they care about: solar and wind energy, stopping gas pipelines, the Green Line Extension, the Mystic River. And we followed that up with our own flyer on those issues.

As an afro-Latino candidate, I was thrilled to see ELM’s dedication to building intersectional coalitions and the centering of racial equity as we worked together to address environmental and climate justice in our Commonwealth. ELM provided vital resources, support, and the type of capacity building that was needed for our progressive campaign to be successful.

 Together with ELM, I know that we can build an intersectional coalition on Beacon Hill and across our Commonwealth that can accelerate our transition to a clean energy future, a fully electrified and modern transit system, and the national model for climate justice.