Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Across the country we saw record voter participation this election as millions of folks voted early, mailed in their ballots, or headed to the polls despite the pandemic and deliberate suppression tactics. In keeping with the deeply held grassroots mission of the Sierra Club, our Victory Corps program led the charge in 41 competitive races to mobilize voters to elect environmental champions up and down the ballot.
Our electoral programs -- the Sierra Club Political Committee and Sierra Club Independent Action-- supported nearly 35,000 Sierra Club volunteers in contacting millions of voters in battleground presidential states and House, Senate, and state races across the country. These volunteers made more than 5 million phone calls, handwrote more than 1.28 million letters, and sent more than 20 million text messages to voters. Additionally, Sierra Club staff and volunteers participated in and led more than 850 grassroots campaign events in key House and Senate races nationwide through theVictory Corps program.
Our team is seeing great results and powerful stories from the many Victory Corps races that have already been called. As election officials across the country continue to count the votes, we remain committed to ensuring a government of, by, and for the people.
Take a look at the places around the country where we came together to help elect climate champions:
Arizona
The Sierra Club participated in Green Wave 2020 along with four other leading environmental organizations to make a difference in competitive races. In Arizona, our organizers worked with Rep. Tom O'Halleran’s campaign in AZ-01, and to elect Mark Kelly to the US Senate.
California
Victory Corps organizer Francis Yang helped lead the Korean-American outreach program in CA-39, and in CA-08, Victory Corps organizer Moises Cisneros built a powerful program in this district and helped lead the campaign’s Spanish language outreach.
Working together, our Victory Corps organizers in California hosted joint rallies and themed events to kick off Get Out the Vote week for volunteers, and won three House seats across the state for climate champions Rep. Josh Harder (CA-10), Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45), and Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49).
Colorado
In Colorado, Victory Corps organizers Kristina Avery and Sarah Snead got to work to reelect public lands champion Rep. Jason Crow in Colorado's sixth district and to support Diane Mitsch Bush in CO-03.
Georgia
The state of Georgia decisively moved in favor of climate champions in 2020, and our Victory Corps organizers were there to help make it happen. Will Anderson worked on Rep. Lucy McBath’s reelection campaign for the sixth congressional district, and Neal Sardana helped elect challenger Carolyn Bourdeaux in Georgia’s seventh congressional district.
Illinois
In Illinois, we had a team of all-stars working in congressional districts IL-06, IL-13, and IL-14. Victory Corps organizer Tessine Murji in IL-14 was a powerful booster for Rep. Lauren Underwood’s reelection campaign. In Illinois’ sixth district, Rep. Sean Casten’s reelection campaign was supported by Victory Corps organizer Emilee Chaclas who led phone banking efforts and helped create inviting virtual spaces for volunteers.
Iowa
Victory Corps organizer Katie Rock worked to support the reelection efforts of clean energy champion Rep. Cindy Axne in Iowa's third congressional district.
Maine
Victory Corps organizer Matt Cannon in ME-02 worked with Rep. Jared Golden’s campaign and volunteers to place a great piece in the Bangor Daily News about the need to reelect Golden to move forward on climate legislation and economic opportunity.
Michigan
In Michigan, Victory Corps organizers Courtney Bourgoin and Sean Brown joined the campaign teams of Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) and Rep. Hayley Stevens (MI-11), respectively. Not only were both members of Congress reelected, but voter turnout surged to record numbers in these races and throughout the state.
Minnesota
Victory Corps organizer Miranda Erlich joined the reelection campaign of Rep. Angie Craig in Minnesota’s second congressional district and pitched in to help the team defend the seat of this champion of clean water and climate action.
New Hampshire
Victory Corps organizer Catherine Corkery has championed environmental safeguards for years and was determined to defend the seat of freshman Rep. Chris Pappas in NH-01. Corkery’s efforts earned her and volunteers the accolade of “supporters of the day” by the Pappas campaign.
New Jersey
Clean energy and public health champion Rep. Andy Kim was reelected to New Jersey’s third district and Victory Corps organizer Jacob Stern led the Sierra Club’s efforts to defend this seat.
New York
The Victory Corps team and organizer Rachel Mandelbaum garnered a win in New York's 19th district for climate champion Rep. Antonio Delgado.
North Carolina
The Sierra Club’s Victory Corps effort in North Carolina included organizer Rebekah Whilden, who joined the campaign to elect pro-science and pro-environment candidate Kathy Manning for the open sixth congressional district.
Virgina
Victory Corps organizer Mary-Stuart Torbeck built a powerful team of volunteers in Virginia to support the reelection campaigns of climate champions Rep. Elaine Luria (VA-02) and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07).
Washington
Victory Corps organizer Sarah Sanne joined the reelection campaign of Representative Dr. Kim Schrier in Washington’s eighth congressional district and worked to secure a win for a climate and public health champion.
The incredible work of Victory Corps organizers and Sierra Club volunteers across the country demonstrates that when we show up for climate action and work together, we win.