Environmental Groups Break Records to Help Pro-Environment Candidates in Down Ballot Races

Washington, DC—NextGen Climate and LCV Political Engagement Fund teamed up to raise and spend more than $6 million for pro-environment candidates in eight key states. GiveGreen in the States focuses on connecting environmental donors with key races across the country that will help elect environmental champions in order to pass significant legislation on climate.

GiveGreen in the States continues to break records this election cycle, raising $431,181 for targeted state candidates during a 36-hour GreenSwarm fundraising blitz. Individual donors have contributed nearly $1.8 million through GiveGreen in the States to a strategic slate of candidates since May. GiveGreen in the States is a partnership between NextGen Climate and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Political Engagement Fund, and is strategically supporting 35 candidates in eight states this cycle.

GiveGreen in the States was launched in October 2015 to support pro-environment candidates in crucial races this cycle who will protect our air and water and have the courage to stand up to the oil and gas lobby. Last year, GiveGreen in the States focused on Virginia candidates, and this year, the program has expanded to include state-level candidates including gubernatorial candidates Roy Cooper (NC) and Jay Inslee (WA), attorney general candidates Josh Stein (NC) and Josh Shapiro (PA) and judicial candidate Mike Morgan (NC), as well as state legislative candidates in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada and North Carolina.

“In order to combat climate change and transition to a clean energy economy, we need to elect climate champions at all levels of government. Our work in down ballot races is especially crucial as state governments, like my home state of California, continue to set the standard for smart climate policy and lead the national push,” said NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer. “Over the past six months, GiveGreen in the States has been incredibly successful and we are proud to support candidates who stand up for a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous country.”

“GiveGreen in the States is the only program that connects environmental supporters with candidates in critical state races. This program is having a huge impact for down ballot candidates who have smaller budgets. The money goes further and helps fund the campaigns operations they need to run to win,” said Gene Karpinski, the president of LCV Political Engagement Fund.

It is crucial to elect strong climate champions at the state level in order to continue making important progress on climate and clean energy issues. NextGen Climate and LCV Political Engagement Fund are committed to making sure climate champions up and down the ballot have the resources they need this election.

In addition to the GiveGreen in the States program, NextGen Climate and LCV Political Engagement Fund and affiliated entities have separately spent nearly $4.3 million in independent expenditures in the same targeted states and races.

The GiveGreen in the States has been supporting state level candidates in strategic races—like the North Carolina Supreme Court race, which will influence redistricting—throughout the general election cycle. The program is working to flip five legislative chambers in four states, pick up one Gubernatorial seat in North Carolina and protect one in Washington, protect two Democratically held Attorney General seats in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, elect a state Supreme Court Justice in North Carolina, and make meaningful gains in state legislatures in two states—pickup key seats in the Florida Senate and break the supermajority in the North Carolina House.