“Days of Action” Underway as Staff Organizers Deployed to Key Races and Volunteers Mobilize Throughout the State
Chicago, IL. -- Today, Sierra Club Illinois announced its endorsements in the November general election for Illinois General Assembly. Sierra Club’s full list of current general election endorsements can be found here, and more may be added soon.
“Thanks to champions in the Illinois House and Senate, the Prairie State is now on the path to a 100% clean energy future, and we are seeing good jobs created across our state as workers build these new technologies,” said Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin. “We are proud to recommend these leaders who will keep us on course for our clean energy goals, fight for environmental justice, provide clean and equitable transportation for all, hold gas companies accountable for rate hikes and indoor air pollution, and ensure every Illinoisan has access to nature and clean and safe drinking water.”
Sierra Club is running a mail and field program grounded in traditional grassroots and community organizing tactics to activate the organization’s nearly 30,000 members and supporters across the state in support of these candidates. This includes seven paid organizers working in key races, Days of Action canvassing for candidates organized by both staff and volunteers, targeted mail to swing voters in key districts, and intensive voter turnout efforts in the days before November 5th.
“We know that electing climate champions and passing strong environmental policies doesn’t happen without people.” said Sierra Club Illinois Organizing Director Caroline Wooten. “That’s why our staff and volunteers are hard at work talking to their neighbors about the importance of voting for the planet and our communities. Already, Sierra Club staff and volunteers have reached out to more than 5000 voters via door knocking, phone banking, and letter writing. We’ve had conversations with more than 1000 people, and secured more than 500 yes votes for our endorsed candidates in the first few weeks of this electoral work. In local races like these, this outreach can be the difference between getting a climate champion in office vs a climate denier. As we watch year after year, communities struggle with the impacts of extreme weather, we know that we must continue to demand climate action from all levels of government, and we need to do our part to make sure we have elected officials in office who’ll be responsive to those demands.”
“Whatever happens in our historic federal election, we know that leadership at the state level will be crucial if we are to provide clean air, clean water, and protect Illinois’ natural heritage. Our volunteers have researched and met with these candidates, and we are proud to recommend them to voters concerned about our environment today and in the future,” said Sierra Club Illinois Political Chair Barbara Hill. “Having identified these champions, we’re now doing the hard work of knocking on doors and making phone calls so voters know the key differences between candidates on these critical issues.”
Sierra Club’s contacts with Illinois voters on behalf of endorsed candidates are funded by Sierra Club Illinois PAC. Copies of our reports are available from the State Board of Elections in Springfield, Illinois.