Big wins for Connecticut’s Pro-Environment Candidates

Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) is thrilled with the number of victories for CTLCV-endorsed candidates throughout the state this election season. These wins at the local level clearly show that Connecticut residents care about the values our candidates highlighted.  
47 of CTLCV’s endorsed candidates won their races. 

With a large number of open seats this year, CTLCV researched and interviewed many first time candidates. Quite a few that CTLCV supported—both incumbents and challengers—were in highly competitive races. 

As the only state-based environmental organization with a Political Action Committee, CTLCV’s Independent Expenditure PAC invested in digital ads, direct mail, and newspaper ads in target districts to bolster support for four top champions. The League also conducted independent expenditures in two open seats where there was a clear environmental choice.

CTLCV cheered pro-environment wins by four top leaders in statewide races, including Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General William Tong, and Stephanie Thomas for Secretary of State.  All four have demonstrated exceptional environmental leadership and won with overwhelming public support.

“Under Governor Lamont’s administration we saw an extraordinary set of climate change executive orders, rulemaking and legislation,” stated Lori Brown, CTLCV Executive Director. “The voters have spoken and they want to see this progress continue.”

In addition to these statewide wins,  CTLCV’s priority legislative candidates prevailed in all six target races for Connecticut House and Senate.  These men and women will be strong leaders at the Capitol in the upcoming 2023 legislative session:

Christine Cohen - Senate District 12
Jan Hochadel - Senate District 13
Jorge Cabrera - Senate District 17
Martha Marx - Senate District 20 
Eleni Kavros DeGraw - House District 17
Christine Palm - House District 36 

CTLCV’s winning champions will be at the legislature in 2023 to tackle pressing issues such as reducing pesticides, eliminating PFAS chemicals, managing waste, preserving forest lands, expanding clean energy, strengthening Environmental Justice laws, and pushing ahead with climate change solutions.   

“Voters are counting on their elected leaders to move decisively on progressive and equitable solutions to our state's most pressing environmental concerns,” said Lori Brown, CTLCV Executive Director.  

Much of what state lawmakers do to benefit clean air, land, and water has a huge impact on public health and our economy—top concerns for voters this year. Many candidates were well-versed in a broad array of complex environmental concerns and addressed them during the campaign. Each of the 47 endorsed winners this year is determined to build on the progress made in 2022 in significant ways to keep Connecticut on the path to a healthier, cleaner, more sustainable future.
Responses to CTLCV’s environmental survey are posted on CTLCV’s elections web page.

Despite hard fought wins, there were a few notable environmental losses in tough races this election, including Eva Zimmerman (Senate District 30) and Paul Honig (Senate District 8) seeking to fill open seats. Representatives Christine Goupil (House District 35) and Kenneth Gucker (House District 38) were strong advocates at the Capitol and will be greatly missed. 

CTLCV’s educational arm (CTLCV Education Fund) conducted a separate non-partisan effort to pass a ballot referendum to allow for Early Voting.  Information to flag the referendum was included in mailings to 62,000 households. A series of digital ads reached more than 500,000 residents. Working in concert with a strong statewide coalition effort, CTLCV Education Fund helped win passage of the referendum with 60% of the votes cast.

“2022 has been a landmark year in understanding how environmental justice and social justice are one in the same,” said Julianna Larue, CTLCV Climate Policy Advocate. “Voting is an essential component to our democracy. Voter intimidation and misinformation have no place in a healthy democracy and CTLCV is committed to helping all citizens safely exercise their right to vote.”

More information on the candidates can be found on CTLCV's website. Voter education information is posted on  CTLCV Education Fund’s website.
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The CT League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) is a nonpartisan statewide organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut’s environment. CTLCV works to pass equitable and sustainable legislation that impacts our air, land, water, wildlife, and climate and holds all state legislators accountable with an annual Environmental Scorecard.