Sunrise Colorado Endorses Two Climate Champions in State Legislature Races
Sunrise Colorado proudly endorses Jennifer Bacon for Colorado State House District 7, and John Kelly for Colorado State Senate District 17! Sunrise hub members from across the state came together to participate and vote in Sunrise Colorado’s first endorsement process of state legislature candidates. An overwhelming majority of Sunrise members voted to endorse both Jennifer Bacon, with 93.9% support, and John Kelly, with 87.9% support.
Sunrise hubs in Colorado launched a rigorous, democratic endorsement process, starting with Sunrise members across the state nominating strong climate champions seeking office. Once those candidates submitted answers to our endorsement survey, hub members gathered on a Zoom call to interview each candidate and ask questions important to our movement and generation. We had discussions with each political candidate about their platform, goals, and alignment with our message, and provided an opportunity for statewide activists to hear their message.
To qualify for an endorsement, candidates must sign the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge and Sunrise Movement’s Green New Deal Pledge. Then, at least ⅔ of Colorado hub members need to vote Yes on endorsement.
We are excited to come together as a statewide movement and push for the success of two of Colorado’s most progressive Green New Deal champions! John and Jennifer represent the first round of candidates that Sunrise Colorado is endorsing in this cycle, and we will follow the same endorsement process for other candidates nominated by our members.
Jennifer is a teacher, lawyer, community organizer, and Denver Public School Board Member. She is a fierce advocate for her community, and is dedicated to fighting for a livable future for all Coloradans. Jennifer understands the climate crisis is a civil rights issue, and is prepared to bravely fight the injustice and environmental racism impacting her district through air pollution. Bacon is running to fight for bold legislation that protects people of color, low-income communities, and at-risk individuals at the forefront of the climate crisis. As a community organizer herself, Jennifer is ready to work with Sunrise to build the movement necessary to win a Green New Deal for Colorado, protecting frontline communities and preserving a livable future for this state’s young generations.
John Kelly is a political organizer and activist. His campaign is centered on advocating for a Colorado Green New Deal and political revolution, echoing the voices of young and progressive Coloradans who are fighting for equity and dignity for all. John is a fearless advocate for the millions of young people across Colorado who are terrified of what continued inaction and incremental reform in the face of the climate crisis would mean for our future. If elected, John would fight for the ambitious, sweeping change that Colorado needs to combat the climate crisis.
Sunrise members across the state are ready to throw down to elect Green New Deal Champions up and down the ballot! The nature of campaigning has completely transformed with the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are confident that our youth-powered movement is ready to rise to the challenge of digitally organizing to send a slate of climate champions to the Colorado State Capitol following the 2020 elections!
