$2.2M campaign invests heavily in paid field, communications to elect environmental leaders to the General Assembly

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(434) 989-3197 | lfrancis@valcv.org

RICHMOND – Throughout October as we head into the final stretch of the 2023 elections, Virginia LCV’s Political Action Committee (VALCV-PAC) has expanded its on-the-ground field efforts as well as its paid communications programs in key swing districts that are critical to restoring a Conservation Majority at the legislature.

The stakes this year are incredibly high, and the organization’s $2.2 million electoral program this cycle is by far the most they’ve dedicated to General Assembly races – reaching levels typically seen during gubernatorial cycles.

“There’s a reason Big Oil groups like the American Petroleum Institute have gotten involved in this race – with an ally already in the Governor’s Mansion, they want to send extreme, MAGA Republicans to the General Assembly who will backslide on our clean energy future and put fossil fuel profits ahead of what’s best for Virginia,” said Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV. “This is why we’re leaving everything we have on the field to elect environmental champions this cycle – we refuse to go backwards on the vital safeguards we’ve passed in Virginia to address the climate crisis and protect clean air and water.”

Communications: Virginia LCV added two Northern Virginia-based House districts to its paid communications programs in October: Rob Banse (HD-30) and Travis Nembhard (HD-22). This brings the full program to eight districts where the organization is running digital content – two Senate Districts (SD-16 and SD-31), and six House Districts (HD-21, HD-22, HD-30, HD-65, HD-82 and HD-97).

With digital and mail combined, VALCV-PAC’s communications program invested more than $925,000 in the lead-up to Election Day. To-date, our mail program has reached more than 100,000 unique households and we are on track to garner 16 million impressions with digital ads across swing districts, urging voters to support pro-environment candidates and reject an extreme, MAGA agenda that would take our state backward on clean air and water.

Field: VALCV-PAC increased its investment in on-the-ground field work in October in two important Senate races: re-electing Senator Monty Mason in SD-24 and electing Russet Perry in SD-31. Ahead of the final weeks of the election cycle, we increased our existing canvass operation in SD-24 by $100,000, bringing our total field investment there to $685,000. We also invested $250,000 in SD-31 to support New Virginia Majority’s on-the-ground canvass operation, bringing our total investment in field work this cycle to $935,000.

In SD-24 alone,VALCV-PAC canvassers have already knocked on approximately 52,000 doors with a goal of exceeding 70,000 doors by Election Day. In SD-31, VALCV-PAC’s support of the canvass program has helped organizers knock nearly 14,000 doors, with a goal of 23,000 by Election Day.

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

###

Environmental group emphasizes Terry’s commitment to climate action, a clean environment in making key endorsement

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, July 8, 2021

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(434) 989-3197 | lfrancis@valcv.org

RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters officially announced its endorsement of Terry McAuliffe for Governor ahead of must-win statewide and House of Delegates elections this fall for the future of environmental protections in Virginia.

“Over the past four years, we’ve made unprecedented gains for Virginia’s environment, passing some of the strongest climate action measures in the country and we are proud to endorse a candidate in Terry McAuliffe who is committed to building on this progress and going even further,” said Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.“During his first term, Governor McAuliffe laid important groundwork in addressing climate change, fighting to advance climate action and clean energy even as a hostile legislature worked to block these efforts at every turn. We look forward to protecting Virginia’s Conservation Majority in 2021 and working with the McAuliffe Administration to continue to advance measures that protect clean air, clean water, and a safe, clean and accessible environment for all Virginians.”

McAuliffe’s opponent in this race, Donald Trump-endorsed Glenn Youngkin, opposes the landmark Virginia Clean Economy Act, which ensures that Virginia will run on 100% clean energy by 2045, and instead touts ideas  that threaten public safety, our economy and our future by not addressing the quickly accelerating pace of climate change.

McAuliffe, however, comes into this race with an already strong environmental record and with bold plans moving forward to continue to protect our environment, address the climate crisis, create clean energy jobs, and cut the pollution that threatens our health and puts us all in harm’s way.

“Climate change threatens Virginia’s resources, our communities, our economy, our health, and our national security. The time to take action is now, and that’s exactly what I’ll do as governor along with the support of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters,” saidTerry McAuliffe. “With my bold plans, we will create good paying clean energy jobs, revitalize our infrastructure, and transition Virginia to a clean energy future by 2035. Extreme Republicans like Glenn Youngkin will block our progress combating climate change. I’ve stopped their efforts before and I’m ready to do it again.”

Background: 
In 2019, Virginia LCV worked to secure the Commonwealth’s first “Conservation Majority,” giving us environmentally friendly majorities in both the Senate of Virginia and House of Delegates along with the Governor’s Mansion. Over the past two legislative sessions, this majority has helped drive unprecedented gains for climate action and clean air, clean water and the Chesapeake Bay, expanded open space and public lands, and environmental justice protections that will help protect frontline communities.

With the Conservation Majority facing its first test this fall, as voters select a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and candidates for all 100 seats in the House of Delegates, Virginia LCV will be endorsing and helping elect conservation champions, while working hard to connect with voters across the state, making the link between environmental protections and public health and safety, and elevating climate action and the environment as core voter issues. More information about Virginia LCV’s electoral and endorsement efforts is available at www.valcvpac.org.

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visitwww.valcv.org.

###