On-the-ground operation in metro-Richmond will mobilize voters, highlight Northam’s strong environmental platform

RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters Political Action Committee announced the launch of an extensive $1.1 million field campaign to help elect Ralph Northam the next Governor of Virginia.

The investment will focus on door-to-door canvassing in the metro-Richmond area – a crucial region for the Northam campaign in November – and will also encourage voters to support Mark Herring for attorney general and Justin Fairfax for lieutenant governor. The initial launch includes 35 organizers starting immediately and continuing to build capacity until Election Day.

“Virginia has made significant progress growing a clean energy economy and safeguarding our state’s precious water and land resources, and this election is pivotal in ensuring continued conservation success. This investment reflects the strong faith we have in Ralph Northam as a leader, as a person, and in his ability to protect the commonwealth’s natural resources,” said Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV PAC. “We live in an era of unprecedented attacks on the environment from the federal level and Ralph is the only candidate in this race who will stand up to this radical agenda and do the right thing for the air we breathe, water we drink, and the special places we love.”

“Ralph Northam grew up with the Chesapeake Bay as his backyard, and one of the reasons he got into politics was to restore its health and beauty. That’s why he’s committed to a comprehensive approach to ensure Virginia’s natural resources and landscape can be enjoyed for generations to come by forming an environmental justice task force, promoting increased use of renewable energy sources, cutting carbon pollution, and continuing the progress made on restoring the Chesapeake Bay,” said Brad Komar, Northam for Governor campaign manager. “We are ecstatic to have the support of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters PAC, and their field program will be a critical component of reaching every voter and letting them know the stakes of this election.”

The new field program marks the third canvass operated by Virginia LCV PAC in the Richmond area in the past four years. Virginia LCV PAC has a long history of smart investments in voter outreach, having the largest field presence outside of the campaign itself during the 2013 governor’s race. That year, VA LCV PAC’s canvass program knocked on more than 300,000 doors and helped bring Governor Terry McAuliffe across the finish line.

About us:
The nonpartisan Virginia League of Conservation Voters Political Action Committee strives for a conservation majority in state government by electing conservation leaders to state office. For more information, visit www.valcvpac.org.

Paid for by Virginia League of Conservation Voters PAC. Authorized by Ralph Northam, candidate for Governor.

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, June 21

Candidate has the record, experience to protect Va.’s environment against Trump

RICHMOND – Citing a long and extensive record working to protect our environment, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters today announced its endorsement of Ralph Northam for Governor.

Throughout his career as a State Senator and in his current capacity as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, Northam, an Eastern Shore native, has been a staunch defender of the Chesapeake Bay. He has also worked to expand clean energy and address climate change while maintaining the strongest stance against offshore drilling of any statewide office holder in Virginia. Northam is also the best candidate in this race to protect the land conservation incentives and programs that preserve working farms, historic sites and scenic lands across the state.

Overall, Virginia LCV understands Northam will hold the line against the radical Trump administration, which has zeroed out Bay cleanup funding, wants to open up our coast to drilling, and attacked commonsense regulations that protect clean air and water.

“As a physician, Ralph knows climate change is having real, harmful impacts on our public health, and as an Eastern Shore native, he realizes that sea level rise too big a problem just to ignore,” said Michael Town, Executive Director of Virginia LCV. “His opponent in this race, however, would join Virginia lockstep with a president who just phoned the Mayor of Tangier Island to tell him not to worry about his sinking homeland.”

“Ralph Northam has the experience, the background, and the proven record to lead Virginia forward, not backwards, when it comes to protecting special places across the commonwealth and safeguarding the air we breathe and water we drink,” said Roy Hoagland, Board Chairman of Virginia LCV. “We are proud to stand behind him and look forward to working with the Northam administration to further the progress we’ve made over the past four years.”

As a non-partisan organization, Virginia LCV invites candidates from both parties to complete its questionnaire, the first step in our endorsement process which comes prior to vetting, interviews and a vote by the Board of Directors. Northam’s opponent declined to participate in this process.

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 Immediate Release:
Wednesday, June 7

RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters announced its endorsement of Mark Herring for re-election as Virginia’s Attorney General. The endorsement is the League’s first backing of a statewide candidate so far in the 2017 election cycle.

In making its endorsement, Virginia LCV looked to Attorney General Herring’s strong record defending the environment from corporate polluters and standing up for solutions to the climate crisis, as well as maintaining Virginia’s long-held ban on uranium mining and empowering localities to protect their communities from the impacts of fracking. More specifically, Herring secured the largest-ever environmental settlement in state history, went to court to defend the Clean Power Plan, and successfully defended the landmark Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan.

Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV, issued the following statement in making today’s endorsement:

“In a time when we can no longer depend on environmental leadership at the federal level, it’s vital that we have a strong backstop here in Virginia who will stand up for our environment and public health. Over the past four years as Attorney General and even longer as a state senator, Mark Herring has been dedicated to protecting clean air, clean water, and protected lands. We need this type of leadership more now than ever. This is why Virginia LCV proudly endorses Mark for his re-election bid and looks forward to working with him for another four years.”

As a non-partisan organization, Virginia LCV invites candidates from both parties to complete our questionnaire, the first step in our endorsement process which comes prior to vetting and a potential vote by our Board of Directors. Attorney General Herring’s opponent declined to participate in this process.

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.