About Us

Washington Conservation Voters is the statewide political voice for the environment. We work to elect environmentally responsible candidates to state and local offices. Working with our allies in the community, we advocate for strong environmental policies and hold our elected officials accountable during the legislative session. Through our political work we are strengthening laws that safeguard the health of our communities, the beauty of our state and our economic future.

 Read what candidates, elected officials, and community members have said about our work.

Winning elections for the environment

Each year, Washington Conservation Voters supports pro-environment candidates during the election season. Working with our chapter network we are able to support over 100 candidates each cycle at the state and local level. 

Read more about our past electoral wins.

Highlights Include:

• 2010:  WCV mounted its biggest political operation in memory, directly contacting over 125,000 voters in the last 10 days before the Election. Despite a tough political year nationwide, Washington Conservation Voters maintained environmental majorities in the Washington state legislature.

• 2009:  Supported environmentalist Dow Constantine in his election to King County Executive, a position critical to statewide environmental progress.

• 2008:  Implemented a successful campaign to re-elect Governor Gregoire by highlighting Dino Rossi’s poor environmental record during his time in the state Senate.  Also assisted in the election of conservationist Peter Goldmark to Commissioner of Public Lands, the highest environmental post in the state.

Providing strategy and focus for the Washington environmental community

Each year we help lead the effort to bring together the environmental community and provide strategic guidance to select a focused agenda of three or four legislative Priorities. With our electoral expertise, knowledge of Olympia politics, and key relationships, Washington Conservation Voters is able to provide strategic input that helps ensure success for the Priorities. We work with our partner organizations and our county chapters to establish a broad base of support that helps ensure success.

The results of this strategic approach speak for themselves.  Working together with our many partners in the community, we have achieved significant victories over the eight years. Highlights include:

• Development of a “local farms, healthy kids” initiative to help support small farms and deliver quality food for our children. (2008)
• Creation of the first-in-the nation program for recycling of electronic waste. (2006)

• Adoption of California’s clean car emission standards. (2005) 

Read more about our past legislative successes. 

Holding our elected leaders accountable

Before every legislative election cycle, we release our Legislative Scorecard. This publication is the tool that sheds light on the effectiveness of legislators on environmental issues. With the Scorecard, we give voters the information that they need, thereby holding our elected officials accountable.

View the most recent Scorecard here.