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 We congratulate all progressive victors in 2008. In particular, we congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama on his transformative campaign and welcome victory. And we thank him for the candor and maturity to tell us in his acceptance speech that our work has only begun:
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead...There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change.
We look forward to working with you and our next President to make that climb.
2008 Endorsements from Friends of the Earth Action
SENATE
Mark Udall (Colorado)  Victory
Mark Emery Udall, a Democrat, has represented Colorado’s 2nd District in the House of Representatives since 1999. He has had an LCV score of 100% every year since he took office. Udall is leading the fight to raise CAFE standards and has championed legislation that provides tax credits for renewable energy. He is also working to secure more resources for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which uses royalties from offshore oil and gas leases to purchase lands in need of protection.
Jim Martin (Georgia) Loss
Incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss has voted more than 95 percent of the time against the health of Georgia families, against the conservation of energy, against clean water, against clean energy, and against the protection of important parks and natural areas. He repeatedly sides with special interests against the public interest. Jim Martin would bring much-needed change. He has extensive experience from his 18 years as a state legislator and he knows how important it is to invest in alternatives to fossil fuels.
Tom Harkin (Iowa) Victory
Fourth-term incumbent Senator Tom Harkin has high LCV scores, including 87% in the first session of the 110th Congress. Harkin is a champion of renewable energy. He introduced the American Fuels Act of 2007, to rapidly increase production, distribution, and consumption of renewable fuels. He is running against Republican Steve Rathje, a businessman who calls for major efforts to jumpstart nuclear energy, oil drilling on precious, protected lands such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and a prolonged presence in Iraq. Harkin continues to aggressively raise money because as his spokesman has said, "he takes nothing for granted".
Jim Slattery (Kansas) Loss
What was once considered a redder than red state, the safety of the Republican seat is closing fast with the entry of former Democratic Congressman Jim Slattery in the race. Slattery is challenging Senator Pat Roberts who has an LCV lifetime score of 0%. Slattery will be a leader in addressing crucial energy issues like stronger fuel efficiency standards, renewable energy and global warming – all of which will bring relief to high energy prices. He served 12 years in the House representing Topeka from 1982-1994, and was a key member who worked to pass the Clean Air Act in 1990.
Tom Allen (Maine) Loss
Tom Allen, a Democrat, is running for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. Allen is the current Congressman for Maine’s 1st District and has been for over ten years, winning over 55% of the vote in each election. As a strong supporter of clean air, water, and energy, Allen holds a 92 percent pro-environment LCV lifetime voting record. Allen’s track record includes opposition to the 2005 Bush-Cheney Energy Bill with its billions for Big Oil, and consistent opposition to bad free trade deals, both of which Collins supports. Collins and Allen also differ strongly on judicial nominations, with Collins voting to confirm all of President Bush’s Supreme Court nominees. Tom Allen is a champion for the health of Maine’s people and the planet and has earned Friends of the Earth’s endorsement.
Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) Victory
Current Governor Jeanne Shaheen is challenging Senator John Sununu who has been called "the single most endangered Republican incumbent in the country," by The Washington Post. Although Sununu has had a mediocre LCV score of 53%, he is weak on climate and bad on the war and stopping subsidies to Big Oil. As Governor, Jeanne Shaheen worked with both parties to reduce global warming pollution and has pledged to fight for clean energy as a US Senator. Shaheen ushers in a strong stance on climate, opposes handouts to fossil fuels, and advocates a responsible end to the war. Shaheen narrowly lost to Sununu in 2002, and is now well ahead in the polls.
Tom Udall (New Mexico) Victory
Tom Udall, a Democrat, has been reelected as New Mexico's 3rd district Congressman four times. He was formerly the state's attorney general and the only one in the state’s history to be reelected to a second term. He is well-known and well-liked statewide. Udall is a big champion of environmental and energy issues with a lifetime LCV voting record of 96%. He is now the only Democrat seeking the state's Senate seat left open by the retirement of Senator Pete Dominici. The election is considered one of the top ten most competitive Senate races. If he can assemble the resources, he is a heavy winner.
Kay Hagan (North Carolina) Victory
State Senator Kay Hagan, a democrat, is bravely challenging Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole. Dole has better name recognition and a bigger war chest, but with an LCV score of 7% she’s no champion of the environment. While Dole consistently votes against clean energy and repealing oil subsidies to help working class families, Hagan stands for clean energy solutions, fair trade policies that enforce strong environmental and labor standards and ending our dependence on foreign oil. NC has a long history of tight races and this will be no exception. But Hagan, having raised $1.5 million in a single quarter, is up to the challenge and could win this competitive race. The Presidentials have provided an extra boost to Hagan’s chances with an upsurge of 250,000 new voter registrations that favor Democrats 8 to 1.
Andrew Rice (Oklahoma) Loss
Rice, currently a state senator, is the Democratic nominee to challenge incumbent Sen. James Inhofe. Sen. Inhofe is notorious for being a rabid global warming denier and labeling it as a “hoax”. He leads the charge against the science of global warming and dismisses the conclusions of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change made up of 2,500 of the world's leading scientists. In the last four out of five Congresses, Inhofe received an LCV score of 0 percent – consistently voting against the environment, renewable energy, and protections of water and wildlife. Rice has a challenge of a lifetime however, as Oklahoma is considered by experts to be a solidly red state.
Jeff Merkley (Oregon) Victory
Merkley has been the Democratic Speaker of the Oregon State House and has a strong environmental record. He is supported by environmentalists in the state and is considered one of the most progressive candidates on the ballot anywhere this year. Merkley is strong on responsibly ending the war, fair trade, and a leader on renewable energy. For a state as green as Oregon, incumbent Senator Gordon Smith is an inconsistent vote on environmental issues with a LCV lifetime score of 32%. Oregonians need a true environmental leader like Jeff Merkley to represent their views.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Lord (Arizona's 3rd Congressional District) Loss
Bob Lord knows how important it is to invest in alternatives to fossil fuels and that Arizona has a special opportunity to benefit from clean technology because of its incredible solar energy potential. Compared to right-wing incumbent John Shadegg, Bob Lord offers a welcome change and a cleaner and brighter future for Arizona.
Congressman Jerry McNerney (California 11th Congressional District) Victory
Jerry McNerney, a major proponent of alternative energy and previous consultant for windpower, was the Democratic candidate who beat the oil industry favorite Richard Pombo out of his seat in 2006. McNerney does not have an LCV rating yet, but we expect it to be high. Last year, he voted to allow stockholder voting on executive compensation and to remove oil & gas exploration subsidies. He voted against the estate tax repeal and making permanent Bush’s tax cut for the wealthy. He also opposes free trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA.
Debbie Cook (California 46th Congressional District) Loss
Incumbent Representative Dana Rohrabacher denies the science behind global warming. On the other hand, Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook, who is challenging him, has a lot to offer. As mayor, she has made sustainability a priority. She has also developed expertise on energy policy while serving on the boards of organizations including the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas and the Post Carbon Institute. She understands that a smart energy policy will grow our economy and create jobs while protecting the environment.
Chellie Pingree (Maine 1st Congressional District) Victory
Chellie Pingree won a tight primary against five other Democratic candidates in June and came out with 44 percent of the vote. Now she is up against Iraq war vet and Bush-supported Charlie Summers and although the district leans left she says she is taking nothing for granted. Pingree established her strong environmental credentials during her time as the majority leader of the state Senate, then leader of the national pro-democracy group Common Cause, and prior as an organic farmer. Pingree is committed to creating green jobs, fighting global warming, and preventing toxins from being released into the environment.
Frank Kratovil (Maryland 1st Congressional District) Victory
Maryland Democratic candidate Frank Kratovil is running against Republican Andy Harris. Kratovil, a county attorney, won in a four-way primary with 40% of the vote. His opponent Harris, a state senator, is the darling of well-funded right wing groups, such as the Club for Growth, who attacked Republican incumbent Wayne Gilchrest for his willingness to work across the aisle on environmental issues. Kratovil’s chances of winning are bolstered by being selected by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to receive financial, communications, and strategic support.
Donna Edwards (Maryland 4th Congressional District) Victory
Donna Edwards, a Democrat, won the primary and a special June 17 election and is now serving in the House of Representatives. She was a first-time candidate who came out of nowhere in 2006 to give U.S. Rep. Albert Wynn (D-MD) a race for his political life. Al Wynn was an eight-term incumbent criticized as a corporate-bought politician who sides with Republicans on critical votes his district cares about such as Iraq, energy, and bankruptcy issues. Edwards is sure to be not just another good vote but a real champion for clean energy.
Dennis Shulman (New Jersey 5th Congressional District) Loss
Dennis Shulman, a Democrat, is running against 3rd-term Republican Representative Garrett. With an LCV score of only 20%, Garrett has the lowest lifetime environmental voting record out of the entire NJ delegation. His fellow NJ Republicans vote in favor of the environment at least 50% more of the time than Garrett. The Democrats upgraded Shulman’s race as among the top priorities for the nation. Unlike Garrett, Shulman strongly opposes oil drilling, is devoted to building a green collar workforce, and has opposed the war in Iraq from its inception. Dennis Shulman has gained the endorsement of Friends of the Earth because the people of New Jersey's Fifth District deserve better than they are getting with Steve Garrett.
Steve Driehaus (Ohio 1st Congressional District) Victory
Steve Driehaus, a Democratic an Ohio state legislator, is running to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Chabot. Chabot had one of the worst environmental voting records in the entire Ohio Delegation in 2007 and 2008. Chabot scored only eight percent on the 2008 League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard, meaning that he voted against a healthy environment more than 90 percent of the time. In contrast, Driehaus has proven himself a strong supporter of clean renewable energy by helping to get a comprehensive renewable energy bill and renewable energy portfolio standards passed in the Ohio legislature.
Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio 3rd Congressional District) Victory
Friends of the Earth Action helped cover the cost of a recount in this Columbus district that gave the victory to Kilroy. Kilroy has a good understanding of environmental issues and a commitment to a healthy environment.
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pennsylvania 3rd Congressional District) Victory
The incumbent member of Congress representing this district, Phil English, has taken over $121,000 from oil and gas interests since 2000, including money from Exxon, Sunoco and Marathon. He has then voted to continue billions in subsidies to these interests at the very time they are making record profits. Fortunately for Pennsylvanians, Kathy Dahlkemper will bring a very different approach to Washington. She understands the need for clean energy and a healthy environment and will fight for those principles in Congress.
STATE RACES
James Phinizy (New Hampshire State Senate) Loss
State representative James Phinizy (D- Acworth) is chair of the Environment and Agricultural Committee is challenging incumbent state Senator Bob Odell (R- Lempster). Odell is endorsed by New Hampshire LCV, but basically for supporting the same things as Phinizy. Yet Phinizy has gone further. He has earned the nickname "Representative Mercury" for being the main champion on mercury removal and is leading the way on recycling programs. He is also committed to revitalizing the state’s agriculture with an eye to reducing carbon emissions.
Christine Gregoire (Governor Washington State) Victory
Friends of the Earth Action has endorsed incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire (D), who has been an environmental champion for Washington and the clean-up of Puget Sound. Governor Gregoire helped create the Puget Sound Partnership last year to clean up toxic sediment and reduce storm water pollution in the Sound. She is facing a tough challenge from her Republican opponent and your vote for her is needed to protect the environment in Washington.
Peter Goldmark (Washington State Public Lands Commissioner) Victory
Friends of the Earth Action has endorsed Peter Goldmark, who will work to protect the environment of Washington. The Public Lands Commissioner can dramatically impact the quality of life, rural economies, and natural environment of the state of Washington. The Commissioner oversees more than 5 million acres of state forests, 9.3 million acres of private forest land, agricultural, range and aquatic lands.
* The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Scorecard tracks key votes on the most important issues of the year, including energy, global warming, environmental health and safety protections, resource conservation, and spending for environmental programs. Congress members are scored according to how they voted on the issues. A no-show counts as a vote against the environment. Friends of the Earth sits on the LCV board of directors and the LCV Scorecard Advisory Committee.
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