2010 Endorsements from Friends of the Earth Action

Senate Races

Russ Feingold (Wisconsin)
Senator Russ Feingold scored an impressive 100 percent on the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) 2009 Scorecard. He introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act and was crucial to passing the Great Lakes Compact to protect the Great Lakes. Sen. Feingold is a champion of repealing tax breaks for big oil and ending subsidies for dirty fuels. Sen. Feingold was also named a Congressional Environmental Champion by Environment America. His opponent, Ron Johnson, opposes climate change legislation, and advocates for more dangerous drilling.

Patty Murray (Washington)
Senator Patty Murray was endorsed by LCV, and received a 95 percent rating from LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. Sen. Murray was also named a Congressional Environmental Champion by Environment America. Her opponent, Representative George Nethercutt, is a member of LCV’s Dirty Dozen and received a 6 percent rating from LCV’s 2009 National Environmental Scorecard.

Elaine Marshall (North Carolina)
State Secretary Elaine Marshall was endorsed by LCV. Sec. Marshal supports implementing various clean technologies to achieve energy independence, including solar and wind. The incumbent, Senator Richard Burr, opposes climate change legislation domestically, as well as U.S. cooperation to implement strong and just global responses to the climate crisis.

Joe Sestak (Pennsylvania)
Representative Joe Sestak has been endorsed by both LCV and Clean Water Action. As a U.S. House representative, he received a 96 percent rating from LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. His opponent, Pat Toomey, voted to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a representative in the U.S. House. Sen. Toomey was also named one of the LCV’s Dirty Dozen with a rating of 0 percent due to his opposition to every major piece of clean energy and environmental legislation during his time in office.

Paul Hodes (New Hampshire) 
Representative Paul Hodes was endorsed by LCV and scored a perfect 100 percent on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. Rep. Hodes is a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus. His opponent, former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, supports an expansion of domestic oil drilling and nuclear power.  Kelly Ayotte also opposes climate change legislation and denies that climate change is human-made.

Tom Clements (Green Party, South Carolina) 
Tom Clements is Friends of the Earth’s current southeastern campaign coordinator and his work focuses on issues pertaining to nuclear reactors and their waste. He is running against incumbent Senator Jim Demint, who received a zero grade on LCV’s 2009 environmental scorecard.

House Races

Raul Grijalva (Arizona's 7th Congressional District)

Henry Waxman (California's 30th Congressional District)

Betsy Markey (Colorado's 4th Congressional District)
LCV endorsed Representative Betsy Markey for re-election after Rep. Markey earned a strong 79 percent on LCV’s 2009 National Environmental Scorecard. Rep. Markey’s opponent, state legislator Cory Gardner, has voted against legislation promoting clean energy production and jobs in Colorado. While he does believe the climate is changing, he does not “believe that humans are causing climate change to the extent that’s been in the news.” Think Progress’s Wonk Room named Rep. Markey one of the House’s most vulnerable climate champions.

Alan Grayson (Florida's 8th Congressional District)
Representative Alan Grayson scored 100 percent on LCV’s 2009 National Environmental Scorecard. Rep. Grayson was also named as a Congressional Environmental Champion by Environment America. His opponent, Daniel Webster, currently has no stated public policy on climate change or energy.  TIME magazine named the race one of its five “Campaign 2010: Races to Watch,” noting that in the past Republicans had a very tight grip on this district.

Suzanne Kosmas (Florida's 24th Congressional District)
Representative Suzanne Kosmas was endorsed by the LCV and scored a perfect 100 percent on LCV’s 2009 National Environmental Scorecard. Rep. Kosmas lists creating clean energy jobs as one of her top issues. Her opponent, former Deputy Sheriff Sandy Adams, opposes climate change legislation. 

Frank Kratovil (Maryland's 1st Congressional District)
Representative Frank Kratovil was endorsed by LCV after scoring 79 percent on its 2009 National Environmental Scorecard. His opponent, state legislator Andy Harris, supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and bashed climate change legislation as a “job killing energy tax." Think Progress’s Wonk Room listed Rep. Kratovil as their second most vulnerable House climate champion. 

Mark Schauer (Michigan's 7th Congressional District)
LCV endorsed Representative Mark Schauer after giving him a 100 percent rating in its National Environmental Scorecard. Environment America named him as one of its Congressional Environmental Champions. His opponent, the former Representative Tim Walberg, was voted one of LCV’s Dirty Dozen after opposing every major clean energy reform and earning a 0 percent rating on LCV’s scorecard.

Chellie Pingree (Maine's 1st Congressional District)
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.

Carol Shea-Porter (New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District)
LCV endorsed Representative Carol Shea-Porter after she received a 100 percent rating in LCV's National Environmental Scorecard. Think Progress’s Wonk Room listed Rep. Shea-Porter as one of the top five most vulnerable House champions for climate action. Her opponent, former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, has signed the “No Climate Tax Pledge” sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and Koch Industries.

Harry Teague (New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District)
Representative Harry Teague was endorsed by LCV after scoring an 86 percent rating. His opponent, the former Representative Steve Pierce, has called the science behind climate change “crap” and was named one of LCV’s Dirty Dozen during his time in office.

Dina Titus (Nevada's 3rd Congressional District)
Representative Dina Titus was endorsed by LCV. Promoting renewable energy is one of Rep. Titus's main priorities in Congress, and she has championed several pieces of renewable energy legislation. Her opponent, John Heck, signed the “No Climate Tax Pledge” sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and Koch Industries.

Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio's 15th Congressional District)
Representative Mary Jo Kilroy was endorsed by LCV and scored a perfect 100 percent on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. Environment America named her a Congressional Environmental Champions. Her opponent, former State Senator Steve Stivers, has derided climate change legislation as “a tax on families and another job killer in our communities.”

John Boccieri (Ohio's 16th Congressional District)
Representative Joe Boccieri was endorsed by LCV and scored 93 percent on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. He was also named a Congressional Environmental Champion by Environment America. His opponent, former Wadsworth Mayor Jim Rennaci, staunchly opposes climate change legislation.

Earl Blumenauer (Oregon's 3rd Congressional District)

Paul Kanjorski (Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District)
Rep. Paul Kanjorski’s race has been identified as key by the NRDC Action Fund. Think Progress’s Wonk Room named Representative Paul Kanjorski one of its top five most vulnerable House champions for climate action. Rep. Kanjorski received a 100 percent rating from the LCV. His opponent, Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta, signed the Koch Industries and Heritage Foundation-sponsored “No Climate Tax Pledge,” and is a steadfast proponent of offshore drilling and liquid coal.

Dr. Manan Trivedi (Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District)
Dr. Manan Trivedi lists renewable energy as one of his top issues and advocates for increased public transportation, for funding for clean energy projects, and for an equitable international dialogue on climate change. The incumbent, Representative Jim Gerlach, scored only 43 percent on the LCV National Environmental Scorecard.

Steve Cohen (Tennessee's 9th Congressional District)

Ciro Rodriguez (Texas's 23rd Congressional District)
Representative Ciro Rodriguez scored 86 percent on the LCV scorecard. His opponent, Quico Canseco, opposes any legislation that would “limit access to domestic oil, natural gas, oil shale, coal deposits, and other sources” of energy. 

Lloyd Doggett (Texas' 25th Congressional District)

Tom Perriello (Virginia's 5th Congressional District)
Think Progress rated Rep. Perriello at the top of its list of most vulnerable House climate champions. LCV also endorsed Rep. Perriello. His opponent, State Senator Robert Hurt, is a strong proponent of offshore drilling and opposes climate change legislation. Rep. Perriello was narrowly elected by 727 votes in 2008 and is facing a tough re-election fight.

Rick Larsen (Washington's 2nd Congressional District)

Denny Heck (Washington's 3rd Congressional District) 
Representative Denny Heck is running for the House seat recently retired by Representative Brian Baird (D). Rep. Heck is facing a mainstream Republican challenger, Jaime Herrara, who has a lifetime Washington LCV score of 18 percent and a score of 11 percent for her record in the Washington State House of Representatives in 2009-2010.

Steve Kagen (Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District)
LCV endorsed Representative Steve Kagen in 2008. Rep. Kagen was also named a Congressional Environmental Champion by Environment America. He co-sponosored the Clean Water Restoration Act and bills that would increase fuel economy standards.