In Washington state, we defeated powerful forces. We made progress on policy.

No images? Click here [link removed]

John,

The 2024 election results were certified by counties this week. So, we at Washington Conservation Action (WCA) now have a clear sense of what we’ve accomplished and how we’ll summon our collective energy for the fight ahead.

In Washington state, we defeated powerful forces. We made progress on policy. We told our story in a way that moved voters. I am motivated by what we’ve achieved together!

On Earth Day, we launched our most ambitious campaign to get 50,000 new or infrequent voters to vote in November. Through event outreach, phone banking, and more, we got 58,900 pledges to vote pro-environment!

This is the kind of audacious organizing it takes to grow environmental majorities in the legislature. It’s the power that defeats far-right initiatives like I-2117, which would have repealed our state’s cap-and-invest carbon law. We launched the 2117 coalition –working hard all year fundraising, providing capacity and strategy, and fighting to defeat 2117.

During the primary election, Washington Conservation Action and WCA Votes organized, supported and raised nearly $300,000 to ensure that our candidate, Dave Upthegrove, made it through the Primary Election for commissioner of public lands. That race was ultimately decided by just 49 votes across the whole state. Upthegrove won on a detailed vision for modern management of our public state forests. Now we must be ready to support the efforts that must be undertaken at DNR to manage the land for all of Washington.

Our local efforts also paid off: We partnered with Nuestra Casa in Central Washington to mobilize voters, and get out the vote. We helped elect Ryan Mello as Pierce County Executive, the county’s first LGBTQ-identified executive. Facing a strong headwind, our organizing and collaboration with labor and organizations in Tacoma got a pro-environment majority on the Pierce County council. We elected Phyllis Bernard, who will be the first Black woman to serve on the Clallam County Public Utility District. Julieta Altamirano-Crosby will be the first Latina elected to Snohomish County Public Utility District. This improved representation will translate to healthier and stronger communities.

Now is the time to braid our emotions and momentum, and get comfortable with our power. Because we each have power, and together we have more power than we know!

I’m reminded of more than a decade ago, when then state Senator-elect Pramila Jayapal asked an audience at a post-election panel, “Raise your hands if you like power!” People shifted uncomfortably, and none raised a hand. She asked again, this time making it clear that she wanted people to raise their hands. They did. Jayapal then explained that we all have power, we have more power when we come together, and that our values and our ideals need power to make change.

Join our legislative action team to keep supporting bold policy during Washington’s 2025 legislative session, to push our lawmakers to prioritize our health and the environment, and to build our movement. The best way to fight despair and panic is to act to hold back the forces that would take us backward. The power of our future is in our hands – let’s join them together!

Click here to automatically opt-in on 2025 Legislative Session updates! [[link removed]]

Let’s stay in the fight,

Alyssa Macy (she/her)

CEO, Washington Conservation Action

Citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon

Forward [link removed]

Washington Conservation Action

1417 Fourth Avenue, Suite 800 | Seattle, WA 98101

(206) 631-2600 | [email protected]

EIN: 91-0839385

You are subscribed to receive emails from Washington Conservation Action.

Preferences [link removed] | Unsubscribe [link removed]