Since its founding in 1972, making democracy work has been central to Clean Water Action's mission and strategy. The cornerstone of this strategic focus is holding elected officials accountable to voters. A crucial problem underlying many pollution problems, we believe, is an imbalance of political power that distorts our political system and hampers good policy.

Guided by this belief, Clean Water Action builds grassroots strength in key states and communities to change politics and environmental policy in states, local communities and Washington, DC. We run muscular and effective grassroots campaigns to defeat anti-environment candidates, and support candidates who are committed to protecting our waters, our health, and our future. Our political program is non partisan. We consider candidates from all parties and support those who demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection. Our door-to-door campaigns educate the public and promote grassroots power while training the next generation of environmental leaders.

Turning Out the Environmental Vote in 2010

Clean Water Action's strength is our unmatched ability to talk directly to people, one-on-one, the type of real human interaction that is the most effective way to engage voters. In 2010, our work is more important than ever.

The stakes are incredibly high for our environment and health in the 2010 election. Recent events have highlighted for voters what happens when those we elect care more about rolling back regulations than protecting the waters we all depend upon for our health and livelihoods.  The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the consequences of lax regulation and continued over-reliance on fossil fuels. Boston's crumbling water infrastructure left 2 million people without drinkable water, illustrating the need for public investments that protect water and create new green jobs. Reams of new research show clear connections between exposure to toxins in products and serious human health impacts.

For the first time in decades, leadership in both Congress and the White House is open to taking on major policy reforms on energy, water and toxics.  Unlike other issues where the far-right wing has muddied the waters for swing voters, the positions on environmental issues provide a very clear picture of who is acting in the public interest and who is siding with big oil, the chemical lobby and others who want to treat our waters as their dumping ground.

The battle lines have been changing rapidly in key Congressional races around the country, but one thing is certain - anti-environmental candidates are threatening pro-environmental incumbents in dozens of House and Senate races. At the state level, 17 gubernatorial races are highly competitive and at least 32 legislative chambers could see a change in leadership, having huge consequences for state level policy action and redistricting.  Clean Water Action's Making Democracy Work programs will make sure voters understand what is at stake and take their concern for our environment to the ballot box in November.

We need your help to win

• To get involved in any of the races listed below, contact the Clean Water Action office nearest you.
• Make a contribution to support our election work in 2010
• See our full list of endorsements in 2010.

Jump directly to a state:

California | Colorado | Massachusetts | Maryland | Michigan
Minnesota | New York | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Virginia

Paid for by Clean Water Action and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.