FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2018
Media Contact: Josh Tulkin, 650-722-3171, Josh.Tulkin@mdsierra.org
Environmentalists Celebrate State and Local Victories, React to Loss of Gubernatorial Race
The Maryland Sierra Club and other environmental organizations mobilized in unprecedented ways to defend pro-environment incumbents and elect new leaders.
For the general election, Sierra Club strategically targeted staff time, canvasses, phone banks, and digital ads to support Ben Jealous for Governor and priority state senate races where there was a clear difference between the pro-environment candidate and their opponent including but not limited to: Ron Young (D3), Kathy Klausmeier (D8), Katie Hester (D9), and Sarah Elfreth (D30).
Sierra Club Maryland Director Josh Tulkin said:
“We are very encouraged by the strong turnout and the performance in many local and state legislative races. We are disappointed with the loss of Ben Jealous and Susie Turnbull, who offered a bold and inspiring vision to move Maryland to 100% clean renewable energy. However, we were encouraged to see that Governor Hogan also spoke to the importance of protecting the environment in his ads, and are ready to work with him, and to push him, to ensure that Maryland step up to be a stronger leader in the fight against climate change”.
"This election we raised more than $70,000 to support pro environment candidates. In the five weeks leading up to the election we organized over 20 separate canvasses and phone banks, and invested thousands of dollars in digital ads targeting our priority races. From early voting through election day we mobilized over 125 volunteers to pass out our “Green Ballots”. We organized over 200 volunteer shifts, including 125 just in the last two weeks."
In the closing weeks of the election, the Sierra Club partnered with its local groups to target additional support to endorsed candidates for County Executive in Montgomery County, Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Howard County.
Maryland Chapter Political Chair Betsy Johnson said:
“All politics is local. It became clear from public polling that our endorsed county executive candidates such as Johnny Olszewski and Steuart Pittman were surging. We successfully doubled down on our efforts to elect new environmental leaders in some of Maryland’s largest and fastest growing jurisdictions”.
SIERRA CLUB PRIORITY RACES AND OUTCOMES
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Sarah Elfreth for Senate, District 30 by 4,064 votes (2,600+ members & supporters)
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Ron Young for Senate, District 3 by 7,319 votes (1,997 members & supporters)
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Katie Fry Hester for Senate, District 9 - ahead by 154 votes with absentee ballots still to be counted (1,783 members & supporters)
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Ken Kerr for Delegate, District 3B by 552 votes defeated incumbent Bill Folden (1,000 members & supporters)
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Michelle Guyton for Delegate, District 42B by 306 votes (1,600+ members & supporters)
COUNTY RACES
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Johnny O for Baltimore County Executive by 45,344 votes (11,000+ members and supporters).
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Steuart Pittman for Anne Arundel County Executive by 7,763 votes, plus winning a 4-3 pro-environment majority on Anne Arundel County Council (10,000+ members & supporters)
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Calvin Ball for Howard County Executive by 6,336 votes (5,000+ members & supporters)
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Jan Gardner for Frederick County Executive by 7,184 votes and Kai Hagan for At Large Council by 471 votes (3,800+ members & supporters)
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Marc Elrich for Montgomery County Executive by 158,498 votes (18,000+ members & supporters).
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ABOUT THE SIERRA CLUB:
The Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization -- with three million members and supporters.
The Maryland Sierra Club has over 71,000 members and supporters and activates thousands of volunteers every year to enjoy, explore and protect the planet through outdoor activities, education, and advocacy.