Washington, D.C. – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) congratulates Senator-elect John Hickenlooper on his victory in Colorado tonight. Hickenlooper’s victory marks a defeat of one of the worst anti-environmental candidates this cycle, Cory Gardner. Gardner was a member of LCV Victory Fund’s 2020 Dirty Dozen list.

“From start to finish, the race for the Senate in Colorado has been about public lands and addressing climate change,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “Voters demanded real commitments not false promises and greenwashing. John Hickenlooper made it clear from day one that he will stand up for Colorado’s universal environmental values. LCV is thrilled to work with Senator-elect John Hickenlooper to uphold those Colorado values in the Senate.”

“Congratulations to Senator-elect Hickenlooper and so many other pro-conservation candidates on their victories tonight,” said Conservation Colorado Executive Director Kelly Nordini. “Conservation Colorado looks forward to working with Senator-elect Hickenlooper to advance climate action, rein in corporate polluters, and getting the CORE Act and other public lands bills across the finish line in the coming year. And to Cory Gardner and those who would follow his lead: always remember that Coloradans know the difference between leadership and lip service. All the corporate PAC money in the world can’t greenwash a pro-polluter record.”

LCV’s GreenRoots member mobilization program turned out LCV members to volunteer with the Hickenlooper campaign. This is a part of a nationwide field program to help elect environmental champions that engaged nearly 2,600 LCV members.

Environmental donors contributed nearly $550,000 to Colorado candidates via GiveGreen. GiveGreen — a partnership between LCV Victory Fund, NextGen America and the NRDC Action Fund PAC that helps grassroots donors directly contribute to pro-environment candidates — raised a record $43 million for the 2020 cycle.

LCV Action Fund endorsed Hickenlooper as well as House candidates Joe Neguse (CO-02), Diane Mitsch Bush (CO-03) and Jason Crow (CO-06) for their commitments to protecting Colorado’s public lands and addressing the climate crisis.

These are just some of the climate champions who ran in Colorado. Hickenlooper’s early victory proves that running on climate is both good policy and good politics.