2016 Election Results:
Washington Conservation Voters, the state’s political voice for the environment, was among the largest organizations participating in reelecting Governor Inslee and produced the only independent expenditure to elect Hilary Franz as Washington’s next Commissioner of Public Lands. Washington now has an experienced environmental champion for the first time in 16 years in the state’s only elected office that deals solely with natural resource issues. Earlier this month, Washington Conservation Voters named Steve McLaughlin, Franz’ opponent, on the League of Conservation Voters’ National Dirty Dozen list.
Washington Conservation Voters had one of its largest political programs in its history, spending over $1,000,000 to elect environmental candidates. WCV reached thousands of voters at their doors through statewide voter engagement programs highlighting the stark differences in races for statewide office and the legislature, and millions more voters in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties with cable and digital advertisements.
“Today’s results prove once again that Washingtonians want leaders who put our public health, clean air, and clean water ahead of big polluters’ profits,” said Joan Crooks, WCV CEO.
WCV reached millions of voters through:
- TV = 3 million voters
- Digital = 2 million impressions
- Mail = 262,651 voters
- Doors = 98,585
- Phone calls = 21,419
Washington Conservation Voters also helped lead the Our Votes Count coalition. Our Votes Counts worked in legislative districts across the state to engage infrequent voters at the door who support environmental candidates, but don’t consistently vote. These voters are often younger voters, people of color, and single women. This is a multi-year strategy to boost voter turnout in swing legislative districts by widening the base of environmental voters.
Other significant wins include:
- Mark Mullet in Issaquah/East King County (5th District): a small business owner who will return to the Senate as one of the state’s most consistent environmental champions.
- Cyrus Habib Lieutenant Governor: has been an outspoken climate and clean energy advocate and will continue to push our state towards strong environmental protection.
In races at the legislative and county level, WCV highlighted those that had a stark contrast and engaged voters on local environmental issues like the Tesoro Oil Terminal in Vancouver and public transportation in Issaquah.
“Washington’s environmental legacy isn’t an accident of geography,” said WCV President Shannon Murphy. “Voters know the difference between candidates who just talk the talk and those who take real action to protect our environment and public health.”