Hi —
We don’t usually send two emails in one day, but this news couldn’t wait. We flipped control of the State House for the first time in 12 years!
First off – thank YOU!
Pennsylvania will have its first-ever woman, first Black woman speaker and only the second Black speaker in 244 years of the State House’s existence in Speaker-Elect Joanna McClinton because you and millions of voters took action.
Now, thanks to you and millions of voters, the House Environment Committee will be chaired by a lifelong environmentalist instead of a climate change-denier.
We have been working every day since CVPA was founded 12 years ago to put pro-environmental leaders back in charge of the House… hiring organizers in key parts of the state… contacting more voters each election cycle… expanding our partnerships to include environmental justice leaders and unions… and backing more environmental champions, with a focus on women and people of color.
This victory takes power away from the oil and gas interests that have long had a stranglehold on our legislature and puts it back into the hands of the people. It provides Governor-elect Josh Shapiro a strong partner in the legislature that will help advance a progressive agenda to expand clean energy, protect our open space and ensure that every Pennsylvanian has access to clean air and water.
There are still tight races that haven’t been called, and we’ll send you the full breakdown when we have it. In the meantime, I hope to see you next Wednesday, November 16 from 6-7pm where we’ll be talking about the results of the elections and what’s in store for 2023 (and we might just squeeze in a victory dance, so be ready for it!).
