Marylanders across the state showed up BIG for climate champions. Early results prove climate change is a priority for Maryland voters as candidates committed to climate action are elected to the General Assembly and to statewide offices.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Early results show record numbers of candidates who support strong action on climate change are in position to win seats up and down the ballot in Maryland’s races for State Senate, House of Delegates, and statewide offices. An overwhelming majority — 101 out of 111 — of the candidates CCAN Action Fund endorsed as “climate champions” are ahead in their general election, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections website. In addition, Marylanders have elected three climate champions for statewide office — Wes Moore for Governor, Brooke Lierman for Comptroller, and Anthony Brown for Attorney General.
”The 2022 election is a pivotal moment for the climate movement in Maryland. Voters have made it clear that they understand the importance of addressing climate change by sending a record number of climate champions to the General Assembly as well as statewide offices. With this mandate, Maryland can continue to set the pace as a national climate leader,” said Mike Tidwell, executive director of CCAN Action Fund, the advocacy arm of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN).
The deadline for counting mail-in ballots varies by county, so official election results are not available yet for some races. But with Election Day and the majority of early voting tallies now reported across most Maryland precincts, climate champions in several key races are in the lead -– including State Senate candidate Kathy Klausmeier (D-8), State Senate candidate Karen Lewis Young (D-3), and House of Delegates candidates Karen Simpson (D-3), Ken Kerr (D-3), and Kris Fair (D-3). CCAN Action Fund also endorsed statewide candidates Wes Moore for Governor, Brooke Lierman for Comptroller, and Anthony Brown for Attorney General, who have all been projected as winners in their respective races.
Now CCAN Action Fund is celebrating the success of these newly elected climate champions. The grassroots group’s members, supporters, and staff have worked hard on behalf of candidates in several key races. Over the course of the general election campaign, they have made 16,758 calls, sent 28,070 text messages, and handed out 3,000 pieces of literature. In the process, CCAN Action Fund has reached over 6,500 voters over the phone, by mail, or in person and received over 4,600 individual pledges from voters to prioritize climate issues when considering who to vote for and are prepared to hold candidates accountable.
These “climate voters” support CCAN Action Fund’s endorsed candidates based on their proven commitment to recent legislative priorities, including the Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019 and the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Almost all of the endorsed candidates have also signed the Maryland Climate Justice Resolution, pledging to support additional legislation that will increase our state’s use of clean electricity, invest in underserved communities, and create clean-energy jobs with competitive benefits and family-sustaining wages.
“This year we made our first-ever endorsements of candidates for Maryland offices because we’re running out of time to pass the transformative climate legislation we need to avert a global climate crisis,” said Anthony Field, Maryland Organizer for CCAN Action Fund. “The early election returns are encouraging, but now we need to see who the official winners are and get ready to work closely with them to keep Maryland moving forward on the path to clean energy and climate justice. Together, we can do it!”
Contact:
Anthony Field, CCAN Action Fund: anthony@chesapeakeclimate.org, 301-664-4068
KC Chartrand, CCAN Action Fund. kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144
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