Anti-Fossil Fuel Candidates Come out Winners in Party Primaries

2018 Election, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Opinions, Policy, Utah

June 29, 2018

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by Mark Hand (ThinkProgress) Democratic nominee Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has one of the most ambitious climate plans. — An impressive list of anti-fossil fuel and pro-climate action candidates won party primaries on Tuesday night, indicating that environmental issues could receive greater attention in this fall’s general elections, especially as lawmakers devise plans to counteract the Trump administration’s anti-environment policies.

At least nine federal and statewide candidates who pledged to reject oil, gas, and coal contributions won their primaries. Among the strongest environmental voices who won Tuesday was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old community organizer who campaigned for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in his 2016 presidential bid and identifies as a democratic socialist.

The success of the list of anti-fossil fuels candidates came two weeks after the Democratic National Committee adopted a ban on contributions from political action committees representing the fossil fuel industry. More than 200 candidates across the country that won primaries this year and made it through to this fall’s general election have taken a pledge not to accept fossil fuel money for their campaigns.

Almost 750 candidates and politicians, including those lawmakers not up for reelection, have signed the no fossil fuel pledge since it was launched in July 2017.

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“Ben Jealous was one of the first signers of the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge, and his victory tonight shows the importance of a strong climate platform to consolidating the progressive base,” Brant Olson, program director at ClimateTruth.org Action, a group that fights for climate action, said Tuesday in a statement. READ MORE

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