NJ Sierra Club 2018 Congressional Endorsements

Jeff Van Drew (District 2) is running for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Frank LoBiondo.  During the endorsement process, Van Drew committed himself to protect  federal public lands, oppose offshore drilling, and encourage renewable energy projects.  Van Drew earned his B.S. from Rutgers University and his D.D.S from Fairleigh Dickinson University Dental School.  In addition to his dentistry practice, Van Drew has served as an elected official  for many years as a Township Committeeman, Mayor, Freeholder, and most recently state senator from the 1st legislative district since 2008, where he has chaired the Community and Urban Affairs Committee since 2015. 

Andy Kim (District 3)  a Rhodes Scholar, worked for the state department for 20 years under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.  His state department work took him to both Iraq and Afghanistan.  He considers climate change a national security issue that Congress must immediately address. He favors  overturning Citizens United and has taken the 'No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge.'  Kim is running against Rep. Tom 'Tea Party' McArthur, whose environmental record is the worst in New Jersey.  McArthur voted for the budget bill that opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, for weakening the Antiquities Act, and is even in favor of ivory sales.  Kim will push to enact legislation and take actions to once again give us clean air to breathe and clean water to drink and work to protect our shores from rising seas.

Josh Welle (District 4) attended the U.S. Naval Academy. He was deployed four times serving in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, holding such as positions as Engineering Officer and Executive Officer.  After returning to the U.S. to launch a software company.  He earned a Bachelor's degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy, an M.B.A. and Master's degree in international relations from the University of Maryland, and an M.P.A. from the Harvard University Kennedy School.  He is in staunch agreement with us on all issues on our endorsement questionnaire.  During his interview he mentioned how he saw the dire effects of climate change in places throughout the world during his four tours of duty in the Navy describing it as a national security threat.  He plans to  spearhead efforts to preserve our national parks, wilderness areas and combat international wildlife trafficking.  As a candidate we were extremely impressed with Josh's breadth of knowledge and command of issues.  He  will be a much stronger advocate for the environment than incumbent Rep. Chris Smith.    

Tom Malinowski (District 7) served  under President Clinton on the  National Security Council and then served as  Washington Director for Human Rights Watch.   Most recently, as an Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor under President Obama.  Malinowski is a hiker and spent time last summer in Bears Ears National Monument.  He has a good grasp of federal lands policy and the need to protect the Antiquities Act.  He  pledged to support policies that protect our air and water, and incentivize the green technologies on which our future jobs depend.  He understands that climate chance is a threat to national security.  During this campaign he pledged to not accept money  from any corporate PACs.  Malinowski is running against Rep. Leonard  Lance, whose environmental record has increasingly deteriorated.

Mikie Sherrill (District 11) is a former federal prosecutor (working in the US Attorney’s Office in New Jersey) and a former naval helicopter pilot.  She served in Europe and the Middle East, where water scarcity and pollution are  day-to-day concerns.   Sherrill understands the threat that climate change poses and further understands that New Jersey and our nation will pay a terrible price if we don’t take meaningful action to end our reliance on dirty fossil fuels and transition to a clean energy economy.  She believes in facts and science. She holds a Master’s degree in Global History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Law degree from Georgetown University.