What do we consider before we endorse a candidate?
First and foremost: a candidate’s actions (repeating the phrase “Green New Deal” in a stump speech doesn’t count). Have they helped organize a youth climate march? Do they have experience in renewable energy? Are they working at the state or local level to pass climate-friendly bills and looking to level up?
In primaries, we won’t endorse without a survey out to local climate hawks that demonstrates grassroots consensus on a candidate’s climate action credentials.
We also look at viability, although we will back long-shots when we find a compelling reason to do so. We do not endorse mediocre Democrats, no matter how vehemently a Republican opponent may deny climate science. We only endorse when we are convinced that the candidate will commit to strong climate action.
And our endorsements pay off. In 2018, we won 75 percent of the primaries where we endorsed – a better track record than any of the larger groups whose endorsement records were compiled by FiveThirtyEight. In 2020, we endorsed in six races each in the House and Senate, and our candidates won five in each chamber – a win record of 87 percent. And in 2022 when everyone was freaking out about a red wave election, we kept calm and focused on the climate hawks – wining 8 of our 10 endorsed races, helping to hold the Senate and deliver Kevin McCarthy the smallest and least effective Republican majority in history.
Climate Hawks Vote does not accept contributions from fossil fuel corporations, executives, or lobbyists. We are a federal Super PAC, which means that we are an independent expenditure committee. We do network with others to look out for climate hawks who can think globally and lead locally.
Peggy Flanagan
Peggy Flanagan is a pipeline fighter, climate hawk, and MN's first indigenous woman to win statewide office.
Daniel Biss
Daniel Biss is the mayor of Evanston, a former state legislator and a climate nerd.
Adelita Grijalva
When we endorsed Adelita Grijalva, we told you that if she won her primary, the general election would be easy. But we also assumed she’d be sworn in quickly.
