Election wins symbolize the end for Youngkin’s anti-climate agenda
RICHMOND, VA— Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund endorsed five candidates for the Virginia legislature in four competitive House seats and one competitive Senate race. CCAN Action Fund’s endorsed candidate, Senator Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), was the 21st pick-up to secure a clean-energy majority in the Senate while Michael Feggans (D-Virginia Beach) became the 51st seat in the House. CCAN Action Fund-endorsed candidate Phil Hernandez (D- Norfolk) also won a competitive race, while Kimberly Pope Adams’s race (D-Petersburg) remains too close to call. Susanna Gibson (D-Henrico) narrowly lost a competitive race.
The three candidates’ successful election will prevent Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin from enacting an environmental policy platform centered on repealing and weakening key climate laws passed by the legislature in 2020 and 2021.
“CCAN Action Fund extends a heartfelt congratulations to Senator Aaron Rouse, Delegate-elect Michael Feggans, and Delegate-elect Phil Hernandez,” said Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director of CCAN Action Fund. “These candidates are pivotal voices for clean energy and climate, and symbolic of the end of the road for Youngkin’s pro-polluter legislative agenda. Our newly elected Hampton Roads delegation will ensure that the region continues to achieve its potential as an economic powerhouse grounded in the clean-energy industry.”
CCAN Action Fund spent over $170,000 on clean-energy candidates, $65,000 of which went to flipping HD97 for Michael Feggans and $40,000 of which was devoted to Kimberly Pope Adams for the tight race in Petersburg.
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