So far, 98% of candidates endorsed by CCAN Action Fund are on track to win seats in their primary elections. Early results show climate change is a priority for MD voters

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Based on early results, candidates who support strong action on climate change are in position to win seats up and down the ballot in Maryland’s primary races for state Senate, House of Delegates, and statewide offices. So far, an overwhelming majority (106) of the 108 candidates endorsed as “climate champions” by CCAN Action Fund are ahead in their primary election, according to vote counts from the Maryland State Board of Elections website. These results bring Marylanders a step closer to electing an incoming General Assembly that will continue to make climate issues a priority.

”Climate change obviously matters to Maryland voters because early results show them sending a record number of climate champions to the General Assembly,” said Mike Tidwell, executive director of CCAN Action Fund, the advocacy arm of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

The counting of mail-in ballots will begin on Thursday, July 21 and official election results may not be available until early August. But with Election Day votes now reported across most Maryland precincts, climate champions in several key races are in the lead – including Senate candidate Ben Brooks (D-10), Senate candidate Pam Beidle (D-32), and House of Delegates candidate Dana Stein (D-11B). CCAN Action Fund also endorsed statewide candidates Brooke Lierman (D) for Comptroller and Katie O’Malley (D) for Attorney General. For statewide offices, AP has projected climate-champion Brooke Lierman as the primary winner for Comptroller but Katie Curran O’Malley is currently behind in her race for Attorney General.

The CCAN Action Fund team hopes that each of these endorsed candidates will secure the Democratic nominations and advance to the November general election. The grassroots group’s members, supporters, and staff have worked hard on behalf of endorsed candidates in several key races. To date, they have made 7,086 calls, sent 38,629 text messages,and handed out 3,000 pieces of literature. In the process, CCAN Action Fund has reached over 77,000 voters over the phone, by mail, or in person including more than 3,000 who promised 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 enable the state to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035, invest in underserved communities, increase access to clean transportation, and ensure that large clean-energy projects use local, union labor.

In the coming months, CCAN Action Fund will continue working to identify and mobilize climate voters in Maryland and plans to announce endorsements for November’s general election.

“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,” Tidwell continued. “The early primary returns are encouraging but now we need to see who the official winners are and then redouble our efforts in the general election so we can elect strong leaders who will stand up for our future. Together, we can do it!”

This message has been authorized and paid for by CCAN Action Fund, PO Box 11138, Takoma Park, MD 20913, Albert Nunez, Treasurer. This message has not been authorized or approved by any candidate.

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CCAN Action Fund is the advocacy arm of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Learn more: 

Electing Climate Champions in Maryland