For Immediate Release, March 2, 2020
Contact: Brett Hartl, (202) 774-7296, bretthartl@centeractionfund.org
Bloomberg Leaps to Third in Updated Environmental Voter Guide
Becomes First Democratic Candidate to Call for Substantial Funding to Address Extinction Crisis
TUCSON, Ariz. — The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund updated its voter guide for the Democratic primary for president to include Mike Bloomberg, who entered the race late.
Sen. Bernie Sanders continues to have the strongest overall environmental record and policy plans, and received an A grade. Sen. Elizabeth Warren places second with an A-, Mike Bloomberg receives a B. Former Vice President Joe Biden’s C+ grade remains unchanged.
Candidates saw the biggest improvements in their grades on public lands issues. In the past month, all candidates have voiced support for the goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
Bloomberg is proposing significant new funding to address the conservation of endangered wildlife in the United States, and expressly acknowledges the unprecedented decline in wildlife around the world.
“There are still huge differences among the Democratic candidates for president but it’s encouraging to see them strengthening their plans for wildlife and the environment,” said Brett Hartl, chief political strategist at the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “Mike Bloomberg deserves credit for recognizing the dire needs of endangered wildlife here and around the world. But all the candidates still need to do more to protect our climate, our wildlife and our environment in face of the devastating attacks by the Trump administration.”
The voter guide evaluated all of the main candidates in four core areas: wildlife, public lands, environmental justice and climate change. Each candidate was evaluated based on their voting records, executive decisions, private sector experience, campaign proposals and a questionnaire.
The voter guide assessed the four main presidential candidates who participated in the February debate in South Carolina and are still competing in Super Tuesday states.
The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for legislation and legislators that will advance a progressive environmental agenda. The Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Center for Biological Diversity, but these organizations’ names are not interchangeable. This news release is from the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, not the Center for Biological Diversity.