Press Releases

Jennifer McClellan Earns LCV Action Fund Endorsement to Carry on McEachin’s Environmental Justice Legacy

Dec 22, 2022

Kyra Madunich-Arevalo, kmadunich@lcv.org, 909-767-9743

Washington D.C. – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect pro-environment candidates, announced its endorsement of Jennifer McClellan in the special election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s 4th Congressional District.

“Jennifer McClellan will be a strong climate and environmental justice champion in Congress who will carry on the late Representative Donald McEachin’s incredible legacy,” said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld.  “McClellan has been an incredible leader on climate and environmental justice in the Virginia legislature, including helping lead the commonwealth to become the first Southern state to commit to 100% clean energy, and we are excited to continue working with her to implement the historic climate investments in the Inflation Reduction Act and to build a just, equitable, clean energy future.” 

“Throughout her legislative career, Jennifer McClellan has always put her constituents first and been a fearless advocate for climate action,” said Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “I am beyond confident that Jenn will continue to be a strong advocate for a clean, healthy, and just environment in Congress, continuing and building on the strong environmental legacy of the 4th District.” 

“I’m proud to have the support of the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund as we work together to tackle the climate crisis, ensure Virginians have clean air and water, and advance environmental justice,” said Jennifer McClellan. “I have worked with climate leaders in Virginia to lead passage of the Solar Freedom Act and Virginia Clean Economy Act, which moved Virginia from the bottom of the pack to become a national leader on clean energy. We’re already seeing the impact with affordable clean energy in Virginia and clean energy jobs across our state. In Congress, I will work to continue Congressman McEachin’s work as a champion for climate action and environmental justice.”

About Jennifer McClellan

Jennifer McClellan was born in Petersburg, Virginia, in the 4th Congressional District. After receiving her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, she practiced law at the firm Hunton & Williams. In 2005, she was elected to the open 71st District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing parts of the city of Richmond and Henrico County. She headed then-Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe’s transition team in 2013 and serves as the Vice Chair of the Virginia Democratic Party, as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and as a vice-chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. In January 2017, she was elected to the open 9th District seat in the Virginia Senate after former U.S. Representative Donald McEachin was elected to Congress. McClellan was a leader on climate and environmental justice in the Virginia legislature, including introducing and helping pass the commonwealth’s landmark 100 percent clean energy law, the Virginia Clean Economy Act. She also introduced and passed legislation to remove barriers for solar power, to protect waterways from interstate pipelines, to increase EV charging stations, was the chief co-sponsor of the clean cars bill, and introduced an environmental justice bill to force permitting applicants to engage in community outreach. 

About LCV Action Fund

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, the connected federal political action committee (PAC) of the League of Conservation Voters, works to elect leaders who stand up for a clean, healthy environment and to defeat anti-environment candidates who oppose climate action. Since the 1990 election cycle, LCVAF has helped elect and re-elect 92 U.S. Senators and 479 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Over the last several years, our efforts have also helped elevate climate change and clean energy as critical issues in key elections.

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Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and authorized by McClellan for Congress.