2020 Endorsements
Not Just Any Democrat!
Proud Pennsylvania stands for electing progressive candidates who will stand up to the fossil fuel industry and fight climate change. We are not supporting just any Democrat, but rather the right Democrats, which means that we must endorse and work for candidates in the primaries to make sure that the best candidates are running on the Democratic ticket this fall. Proud Pennsylvania founder Judy Wicks is also the chair of the Food & Water Action PAC.
Proud PA joins with the Food & Water Action PAC to endorse the following candidates from across Pennsylvania. All of our candidates support these positions:
Halting construction of pipelines and polluting cracker plants, and envisioning an end to the fracking industry in Pennsylvania
Moving Pennsylvania towards 100% renewable energy by 2035
Opposing Restore Pennsylvania, which will lock Pennsylvania into 20 more years of fracking
Backing an economic development plan that supports local business ownership, which brings jobs, community wealth and economic self-reliance to our state
Expanding Pennsylvania’s burgeoning industrial hemp industry
Rejecting all contributions from the fossil fuel industry by signing the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge
Danielle Friel Otten for State House District 155
Danielle Friel Otten won her State House race in 2018 running as a first-time candidate on a platform of shutting down the Mariner East pipeline, which runs less than 100 feet from her home. Danielle’s victory, and her presence in Harrisburg, have changed the narrative of fracking industry domination of the state government. She led the charge to oppose Restore Pennsylvania, Governor Wolf’s flagship legislation which would entrench fracking in the state for another 20 years.
Danielle has been the fiercest opponent Pennsylvania’s fracking industry has ever seen. That is why the industry spent $324,000 to defeat Danielle in the June 2020 primary election. Danielle won that race with 74% of the vote, but she still faces a challenger in the general election, where Pennsylvania Republicans will be working to win back the district she flipped in 2018.
Summer Lee for State House district 34
In 2018, Summer Lee ran for State Representative on a platform of stopping the fracking well proposed in her densely-populated district, located just outside of Pittsburgh. Not only did she win her election as a first time candidate; she then played a key role in stopping the fracking well that threatened her community’s air and water. Summer will no doubt continue fighting for the Mon Valley communities she represents, which have faced decades of environmental injustice.
Nikil Saval for State Senate District 1
Nikil Saval is a father, writer and community organizer who has been fighting for working families and the environment for many years. In 2016, Nikil co-founded Reclaim Philadelphia, a grassroots organization that has played a key role in electing several climate champions. Nikil is running for State Senate District 1, which takes in much of Center City and South Philadelphia, including the former property of the South Philadelphia refinery, which was shuttered in 2019 after a violent explosion. Nikil will fight for a Green New Deal that will simultaneously revitalize local economies and take us off fossil fuels.
Dianne herrin for State House District 156
Westchester Mayor Dianne Herrin will become one of the strongest advocates for the environment in the State House if we can get her elected in November. Mayor Herrin has worked to make her borough a leader in sustainability. As a State Representative, she would work to stop the Mariner East pipeline and ban fracking.
Elizabeth Fiedler for State House District 184
Elizabeth Fiedler proved in her first term as a State Representative that she’s there to fight for what’s right. Elizabeth fought Restore PA, advocated for a Green New Deal, and called for justice after the explosion at the South Philadelphia refinery, which is less than a mile from Elizabeth’s South Philly district.
Jessica Benham for State House District 36
Food & Water Action PAC was proud to support Jessica Benham when she cruised to victory in her primary election as a first-time candidate. Jessica will advocate for her Allegheny County community and others like it around Pennsylvania to justly transition off of fossil fuels.
Emily kinkead for State House District 20
Food & Water Action PAC supported Emily Kinkead as she defeated an incumbent Democrat who was entrenched in the fossil fuel industry. Emily understands that we do not have to accept the false narrative that we can’t have good jobs while fulfilling our moral obligation to ensure clean air and water. Emily knows we can have both, which means standing up to corporate rhetoric and demanding true accountability from companies who are focused on profits over our planet.
Rick Krajewski for State House District 188
Rick Krajewski is a tireless advocate for justice. Like Nikil Saval, Rick is a leader of Reclaim Philadelphia, where he has focused on criminal justice reform. Now running for a State House District covering part of West Philadelphia, Rick is all in for a Green New Deal that will ban fracking, among other strong progressive platform planks.
Sara Innamorato for State House District 21
Innamorato was a consistent voice for protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvania communities from fracking during her first term in Harrisburg. Responding to the emerging cancer crisis facing fracked communities in southwest Pennsylvania, Sara went on a tour of fracked communities, was a presence at community meetings on the subject and called on Governor Wolf for a thorough investigation of the situation.