The following candidates will appear on ballots for voters in Chester County for the Nov 8, 2022 election. Sierra Club has endorsed these candidates as environmental leaders based on their voting history (in current or previous roles in office), their stated positions on environmental issues important to Pennsylvanians and their responses in candidates interviews with Sierra Club volunteers and staff.
This summary references “environmental voting scores”, which can be found in this Environmental Scorecard, a joint report from Conservation Voters of PA, Sierra Club, Clean Water Action and Clean Air Action.
Please consider voting for these candidates this November.
Pennsylvania Governor - Josh Shapiro
Josh Shapiro refuses to accept the false choice between a strong economy and a healthy environment. He knows we can have both and will prioritize a comprehensive climate and energy policy that will move all of us forward. As Governor, he will work to create thousands of good paying jobs by investing in clean energy, infrastructure, weatherization and energy efficiency.
As Attorney General, Josh Shapiro has fought against countless attempts by the Trump administration to weaken environmental protections, settled a multi-state lawsuit against Volkswagen over emissions violations, and held frackers accountable for their pollution.
US Senate Pennsylvania - John Fetterman
John Fetterman believes that climate change is an existential threat, and that we need to transition to clean energy as quickly as possible. He believes that it is a false choice that we have to choose between creating jobs and working towards a cleaner environment — we can and must do both. He argues that we must make proper investments in greener, cleaner technology in America — and make more of that technology right here at home. Fetterman says that he has never taken a dime from the fossil fuel industry, and he never will. Fetterman has served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania since 2019. He previously served as the Mayor of Braddock, PA from 2006 to 2019.
US Congress PA District 6 - Chrissy Houlahan
Incumbent - Congresswoman Houlahan has demonstrated her commitment to environmental priorities in Congress through her support of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act and key items that are important to Sierra Club: climate action, divesting from fossil fuel interests and preserving natural resources like ANWR.
PA House District 26 - Paul Friel
Challenger - Paul Friel is a progressive candidate with a priority on equitable education, clean energy and supports a stronger DEP and pollution regulations. Paul hopes to work to find common ground on all environmental and climate issues. The incumbent for PA 26, Tim Hennessy, has a lifetime environmental voting score of 27%.
PA House District 67 - Kristine Howard
Incumbent - Kristine Howard has a 100% environmental voting score throughout her terms as representative for PA House district 67. We thank her for her strong support of issues that are important to environmentalists in PA. Kristine told us that she supports legislation that requires accommodations for EV chargers in new commercial construction, promotes a “right to repair” requirement for electronics that are hard to recycle and supports efforts to get PFAS out of our food and food containers.
PA House District 74 - Dan Williams
Incumbent - Dan Williams has a 100% environmental voting score throughout his 2 terms as representative for PA House district 74. Dan recognizes that Black and brown communities are bearing the brunt of climate change and other pollution impacts. While he is a realist with respect to setting expectations for a R-majority legislature that has a pro-fossil fuel agenda, he is resolved to supporting his community no matter what.
PA House District 155 - Danielle Otten
Incumbent - Denielle Otten has a 100% environmental voting score throughout her term as representative for PA House district 155. Danielle is the chair of the climate caucus, which she sees as tasked with implementing the PA Climate Action Plan by translating it into legislation. Danielle was named state lead for National Caucus for Environmental Legislators (NCEL). She has a focus on transportation decarbonization and to bring more legislators into NCEL and leverage work done in other states
PA House District 156 - Chris Pielli
Open Seat - Chris Pielli, a former West Goshen Township Supervisor, Chris would like to work to find bills/proposals that are bi-partisan and have support from a majority of members - then pressure the leaders to bring it to a vote. He pledges to work to stop bills that could increase our risk of pollution and increased carbon emissions will also be a priority.
PA House District 157 - Melissa Shusterman
Incumbent - Melissa Shusterman has a 100% environmental voting score throughout her term as representative for PA House district 157. Defending the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a top priority for Melissa. As is expanding open space preservation in Chester County. And responsible producer packaging: recyclable within the state where it is packaged.
PA House District 158 - Christina Sappey
Incumbent - Christina Sappey has a 100% environmental voting score throughout her term as representative for PA House district 158. Christina has focused on storm water and other infrastructure, recognition of the impacts from climate change in the public. She says “It’s late, time to double our efforts”. Single-use plastic preemption tactics by some PA legislators are concerning because it will cause municipalities to spend taxpayer money to defend their own policies.
PA House District 160 - Cathy Spahr
Challenger - Cathy Spahr is experienced in local government - currently working as a transportation planner for Delaware County. Her views on climate change, fracking, storm water management, support of hemp farming and use in plastics alternatives and her views about giving more power to local governments for regulating things like pipelines and extraction (in addition to state and federal regulating) reflect the views of local environmental activists. The incumbent, Craig Williams, has a lifetime environmental voting score of 53%.