Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2018 Sierra Club MI Election Report Final
2018 Sierra Club MI Election Report Final
Sierra Club
Election Results
2018 Sierra Club
Election Results
Sierra Club Leaders and Members,
Election Results
The Sierra Club made 127 endorsements this election cycle and helped make sure a strong majority of them
won their races. These victories represent a positive change for Michigan and its citizens and a stark call for
moving toward stronger environmental protection and away from the Trump administration’s rollbacks and
disregard for
Federal State
Sen Debbie Stabenow All three of our endorsed statewide candidates won
was re-elected, garnering their respective races this election cycle, a sign of hope
52.2% of the vote. for people who care about protecting the environment,
safeguarding Democracy, and ensuring equal rights for
7/11
endorsed congressional
all.
Governor: Gretchen Whitmer
candidates were Whitmer made the environment
and protecting water a key issue on
victorious, including the campaign trail. Her opponent
Bill Schuette would have been the
candidates running in two
43.8% 53.3% worst case scenario for Michigan’s
of the most competitive environment. Whitmer handily
defeated him and we look forward
races in the country. to working with her to protect our
water and natural resources.
Elissa Slotkin
8th District Attorney General: Dana Nessel
Dana Nessel narrowly beat
Republican candidate and current
House speaker Tom Leonard (R), a
major victory for progressives and
environmental activists. She has
46.3% 49.0% vowed to use her power as AG to
shut down Line 5 and fight the
environmental injustices
happening around our state.
Haley Stevens
11th District SOS: Jocelyn Benson
Jocelyn Benson came out victori-
ous in the race for SOS, beating
Republican candidate Mary Treder
Lang, a staunch supporter of voter
44.0% 52.8% suppression efforts. Jocelyn
supports automatic voter registra-
tion and other democracy
improving initiatives our State
desparately needs!
Election Results
State Senate
Of our endorsed State Senate candidates, 14/26
were victorious,
including five candidates who flipped their seats!
District 7 District 12 District 13 District 20 District 29
Dayne Polehanki, Rosemary Bayer, Mallory McMorrow, Sean McCann, Winnie Brinks,
a public school teacher, a business owner and IT who previously worked a former State Rep., a current State Rep.,
won her race against specialist, was victorious for Hot Wheels as a defeated Incumbent won a competitive race
Republican Rep. Laura over Republican Rep. senior designer, beat out Senator Margaret O’Brien against Rep. Chris
Cox, winning 51% of the Mike McCready, with just incumbent Marty by 11% after losing in Afendoulis, garnering
vote. over 49% of the vote. Knollenberg (R), with 2014 by only 59 votes. 56% of the vote.
. 52% of the vote.
State House
Of our endorsed State House candidates, were victorious,41/61
including five candidates who flipped their seats!
District 19 District 20 District 40 District 41 District 71
Lauri Pohutsky, Matt Koleszar, Mari Manoogian, Padma Kuppa, Angela Witwer,
a toxicologist and lab a public school teacher, a former State an engineer and activist, a business owner, won a
tech, beat Republican won his race against Department employee, won her race against very competitive race
opponent Brian Meakin current Republican Rep. defeated Republican Republican candidate against Republican
with just over 50% of Jeff Noble, with 51% of David Wolkinson, Doug Tietz with 51% of candidate Christine
the vote. the vote. winning 57% of the the vote. Barnes, garnering 51% of
. vote. the vote.
won with 61.2% of the vote won with 66.9% of the vote
47,581 75,351
individuals engagements
$$ Finance
Total Raised this Election Cycle:
$418,500
this is an all-time record fundraising year for the Chapter,
smashing our fundraising record from 2016.
Total Raised for PAC Contributions totalling Woiwode Fund raised National contributed
$66,000 $61,500 $24,000 $276,000
from our mail and e-mail to candidates and to pay for In support of
appeal, fundraisers, and Voters Not Politicians by Sarah Tresedder’s Political Gretchen Whitmer’s
large donors large donors Organizer Position campaign for Governor
$68,700
$44,950 $18,250 $4,000 $1,500
donated directly to state donated directly to federal donated directly to Gretchen donated directly to Dana
and local candidates candidates Whitmer’s campaign Nessel’s campaign
$20,000
in direct contributions
Internship Program
58 political interns
We recruited and trained
and deployed them onto 30 endorsed races!
Our interns broke records for voter contact and engagement. On average, they worked
a total of ~400 hours/week on campaigns across the state, contacting over 30,000
voters, organizing events, and representing the Sierra Club proudly. Over the course of
the election cycle, seven interns were hired as paid staff on campaigns as well, ranging
from roles in finance, field, and even campaign management.
Victory Corp
In addition to our amazing interns, the National Political Team partnered with our Michi-
gan Chapter to embed four Sierra Club staffers on priority races. Our endorsed candi-
dates won in every race that featured a VIctory Corp organizer.
1,156
21,351
913,336
average views per post
436,900
457,596 tweet impressions
people reached
447
mentions
Election Guide
25,000
Sierra Club members utilized our
Our guide was also featured in
Between The Lines Progressive Voter
Guide, Michigan’s premiere LGBTQ
election guide election guide for 75,000 voters
So,
What’s Next?
Looking past the midterm
While our hard work paid off in many ways this election, there is still much to be done. We are already
gearing up for our next battles and determining where we need to put our time and resources. Look-
ing ahead, we will be focusing on: