The following candidates will appear on ballots for voters in Delaware 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 Congressional District 5 - Mary Gay Scanlon
Incumbent - Mary Gay Scanlon has a strong record of support for confronting climate change and transitioning to a clean energy economy, protecting lands, waters and wildlife and addressing environmental injustice. A priority focus for Scanlon is ensuring the clean energy transition is powered by development of good quality jobs. She has demonstrated strong commitment to safeguarding our democracy and protecting individual rights. Scanlon received a 100% environmental voting score for 2021 from the League of Conservation Voters.
PA Senate District 26 - Tim Kearney
Incumbent - Tim Kearney has a 100% environmental voting score throughout his 2 terms in the PA Senate. With his sustainable architecture expertise, he brings a special passion for building Pennsylvania's clean energy economy. He has been a strong champion of the Regional Greenhouse Gas initiative, and of increased investment in lands and waters protection. He is committed to ensuring that increased funding for DEP results in stronger enforcement of protections.
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%.
PA House District 161 - Leanne Krueger
Incumbent - Leanne Krueger is one of the PA House's leading advocates for addressing climate change, transitioning to an equitable clean energy economy, and holding fossil fuel industries accountable for their pollution. A top priority for Leanne is ensuring that the transition to clean energy is built on good quality, family-sustaining jobs. She has a 100% lifetime environmental voting record for her 3 full terms in office.
PA House District 163 - Mike Zabel
Incumbent - Mike Zabel is a strong environmental advocate, with a current and lifetime environmental voting record of 100%. He is committed to building the Pennsylvania renewable energy industry. A top priority for him is achieving passage of legislation he has introduced to strengthen Pennsylvania's outdated electronics recycling requirements.
PA House District 165 - Jenn O'Mara
Incumbent - Jenn O'Mara earned a 100% environmental voting score for the 2021-2022 session. She supports Pennsylvania's joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and is strongly committed to advancing clean, renewable energy in Pennsylvania. She continues to work to pass legislation setting state efficiency standards for appliances. O'Mara is an outspoken champion for protecting the rights of all citizens, and defending our democracy.
PA House District 166 - Greg Vitali
Incumbent - Greg Vitali has been a leader on environmental protection and climate action in the PA House since the 1990s. He has a 100% environmental voting record for 2021-2022, with a lifetime score of 98%. His top priorities are seeing Pennsylvania succeed in overcoming opposition and finally joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and bringing community solar and significant investment in EV infrastructure to the Commonwealth.
PA House District 168 - Lisa Borowski
Challenger - Lisa Borowski has demonstrated her commitment to the environment through her work as a township commissioner, where she has helped drive adoption of a Ready for 100 resolution and a single use plastics measure. She is committed to advancing Pennsylvania's implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and enacting state-level controls on single use plastics and stronger safeguards from gas pipeline hazards. Her opponent, Rep. Chris Quinn, has missed critical opportunities to vote in defense of RGGI.