Voters build the state’s political power to tackle our environmental challenges
Yesterday, 42 out of 43 candidates the ELM Action Fund endorsed in this year’s general election were elected to state office. In January, climate champions will take office across the Commonwealth, including 4 in state-wide office and 38 to the state legislature.
Each of our endorsed candidates recognized the urgent need for innovative, effective climate action. With this election, Massachusetts voters proved that candidates win races when they build their platforms around improving transit, protecting public health, and building clean energy.
“More than ever, Massachusetts’ winning candidates centered their campaigns on climate change, clean energy, and environmental justice,” said Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund. “Voters recognized that we don’t have time to waste. Our government must respond swiftly to implement effective climate solutions.”
As a result of this election our government on Beacon Hill will increasingly reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth. Maura Healey is the first woman and first LGBTQ+ identifying person to be elected Governor in Massachusetts. Healey and Kim Driscoll were elected as the first all-women Governor-Lieutenant Governor ticket in U.S. history. Andrea Campbell made history as the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts. Latino representation in the legislature will more than double in January, from six elected officials to thirteen. Overall, the ELM Action Fund helped to elect 24 women and 11 people of color to office this cycle.
Throughout the primary and general elections, the ELM Action Fund team reached environmental voters across the Commonwealth. We knocked on 500 doors, made over 3,000 phone calls, and placed digital ads reaching over 650,000 residents encouraging them to vote for candidates that share their values. We produced the Massachusetts Green Voter Guide, which made it easy for voters to find which candidates on their ballots were endorsed by Massachusetts environmental organizations; over 11,000 visitors viewed this resource this year.
The ELM Action Fund anticipates our leaders will accelerate the pace of progress as we build a greener, more equitable Commonwealth for all.
Governor-elect Maura Healey’s climate plan is one of the strongest in the nation, positioning her administration to meet this critical moment with the strategy and urgency it demands. Her Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll brings invaluable hands-on experience as an environmental and offshore wind leader at the municipal level. “The Healey Administration will utilize a whole-of-government approach to climate action,” said Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund. “We look forward to working with them to ensure Massachusetts leads the nation, building a healthier, greener, more just Commonwealth.”
Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell will use her experience and authority to rectify environmental injustices, protect ratepayers, and enforce crucial environmental protections. “She has the vision to lead on the climate crisis,” said Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund,” in one of the most powerful offices, to both protect our health and push entities to move with the urgency that we need.”
Incoming Auditor Diana DiZoglio will leverage the power of the Auditor’s office to ensure that the Commonwealth is on track to meet our climate, environmental justice, and emissions goals.
In the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Shirley Arriaga won her first election in the 8th Hampden District; she is committed to expediting our clean energy transition and improving public transit. Incumbent climate champions Tram Nguyen, 18th Essex District, and Natalie Higgins, 4th Worcester District, won hard-fought re-election campaigns that showcased their environmental achievements.
In the State Senate, Jason Lewis, a champion for waste reduction and renewable energy, was reelected in the 5th Middlesex District. Becca Rausch, Norfolk, Worcester, & Middlesex District, won her re-election campaign in which she centered her work to decarbonize buildings and drive our state to a net-zero future.
We commend our endorsed candidates, both in the primary and general elections, who lost their races; their courage and ambition to ensure the environment a key campaign issue broadened the debate and pushed their opponents. Environmental advocate Margaret Scarsdale centered addressing the climate crisis in her race for 1st Middlesex District State Representative.
The ELM Action Fund looks forward to working with these and other leaders on Beacon Hill to secure the health and wellbeing of the environment and of future generations.
The ELM Action Fund is a nonpartisan organization that helps pass laws that protect our environmental legacy, holds our elected officials accountable, and works to build the political power of the environmental community. To learn more about our work and our recent electoral victories visit www.elmaction.org/elections.
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Our Green Voter Guide tool allows voters to see which candidates have the endorsements of leading environmental organizations in the state. In 2022, 42 out of 43 candidates endorsed by the ELM Action Fund were elected to office. Check out the Green Voter Guide here!