Sanders, Warren Get Top Marks in Environmental Voter Guide

Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund Evaluates Democratic Candidates on Wildlife, Climate, Public Lands, Environmental Justice

TUCSON, Ariz.— Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren received the top grades in the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund’s new voter guide that evaluates each Democratic presidential candidate on the wildlife extinction crisis, the climate crisis, protection for public lands and environmental justice.

Sanders has the strongest overall environmental record and received an A grade, with Warren following right behind with an A-. Former Vice President Joe Biden received a C+, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar received the lowest grade with a D.

Each candidate was evaluated based on his or her voting records, executive decisions, private-sector experience, campaign proposals and a questionnaire sent to all the campaigns.

“The Democratic nominee for president needs to be a bold, visionary champion of the environment, with a track record of rising to the challenge of saving our planet,” said Kierán Suckling, president of the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “Democrats have taken environmental voters for granted for far too long. It’s heartening to see Sanders and Warren leading the charge on these issues. The rest of the party needs to follow suit.”

The voter guide assessed the six presidential candidates who participated in the debate in Des Moines, Iowa in January, plus Andrew Yang, all of whom are currently polling above 1% in the latest polls. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was not evaluated because of his decision not to participate in any Democratic debate, build a grassroots network of supporters, or compete in any of the early state caucuses or primaries.

See the full report card here. These are overall grades for each candidate:

Vice President Joe Biden: C+
Mayor Pete Buttigieg: C-
Sen. Amy Klobuchar: D
Sen. Bernie Sanders: A
Tom Steyer: B
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: A-
Andrew Yang: C

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.