$2.2M campaign invests heavily in paid field, communications to elect environmental leaders to the General Assembly
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023
Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(434) 989-3197 | lfrancis@valcv.org
RICHMOND – Throughout October as we head into the final stretch of the 2023 elections, Virginia LCV’s Political Action Committee (VALCV-PAC) has expanded its on-the-ground field efforts as well as its paid communications programs in key swing districts that are critical to restoring a Conservation Majority at the legislature.
The stakes this year are incredibly high, and the organization’s $2.2 million electoral program this cycle is by far the most they’ve dedicated to General Assembly races – reaching levels typically seen during gubernatorial cycles.
“There’s a reason Big Oil groups like the American Petroleum Institute have gotten involved in this race – with an ally already in the Governor’s Mansion, they want to send extreme, MAGA Republicans to the General Assembly who will backslide on our clean energy future and put fossil fuel profits ahead of what’s best for Virginia,” said Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV. “This is why we’re leaving everything we have on the field to elect environmental champions this cycle – we refuse to go backwards on the vital safeguards we’ve passed in Virginia to address the climate crisis and protect clean air and water.”
Communications: Virginia LCV added two Northern Virginia-based House districts to its paid communications programs in October: Rob Banse (HD-30) and Travis Nembhard (HD-22). This brings the full program to eight districts where the organization is running digital content – two Senate Districts (SD-16 and SD-31), and six House Districts (HD-21, HD-22, HD-30, HD-65, HD-82 and HD-97).
With digital and mail combined, VALCV-PAC’s communications program invested more than $925,000 in the lead-up to Election Day. To-date, our mail program has reached more than 100,000 unique households and we are on track to garner 16 million impressions with digital ads across swing districts, urging voters to support pro-environment candidates and reject an extreme, MAGA agenda that would take our state backward on clean air and water.
Field: VALCV-PAC increased its investment in on-the-ground field work in October in two important Senate races: re-electing Senator Monty Mason in SD-24 and electing Russet Perry in SD-31. Ahead of the final weeks of the election cycle, we increased our existing canvass operation in SD-24 by $100,000, bringing our total field investment there to $685,000. We also invested $250,000 in SD-31 to support New Virginia Majority’s on-the-ground canvass operation, bringing our total investment in field work this cycle to $935,000.
In SD-24 alone,VALCV-PAC canvassers have already knocked on approximately 52,000 doors with a goal of exceeding 70,000 doors by Election Day. In SD-31, VALCV-PAC’s support of the canvass program has helped organizers knock nearly 14,000 doors, with a goal of 23,000 by Election Day.
About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.
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