Endorsed Candidates for the Ilinois Senate
All 18 of our endorsed candidates won!

Illinois Senate 7: Heather Steans, Democrat  WON!
Website: senatorsteans.com

Heather Steans supports establishing safeguards for Illinois prior to the start of hydraulic fracturing operations in our state. She recognizes that water is an important natural resource and needs to be protected for future generations.

Steans has also opposed efforts to lift a landfill ban in Cook County.

Illinois Senate 9: Daniel Biss, Democrat  WON!
Website: danielbiss.com

Daniel Biss is enthusiastically endorsed for the Illinois Senate. As a member of the State House Biss has quickly become a pro-environment champion. We know that as he transitions to this new office that he will continue to fight to:

Illinois Senate 10: John Mulroe, Democrat  WON!
Website: NA

John Mulroe supports efforts to keep the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on the front lines of conservation by supporting measures that would give IDNR a sustainable funding stream.

He also opposes efforts to lift a ban on new or expanding landfills in Cook County, where landfills have historically been disproportionally located in communities of color.

Illinois Senate 11: Martin Sandoval, Democrat  WON!
Website NA

Martin Sandoval was an early partner in the efforts to clean up the Fisk and Crawford power plants. Focused on cleaning up mercury pollution he held meetings as early as 2005 calling for the closure or clean up of the plants. Both plants are scheduled to close in 2012.

Sandoval as the Chair for the Transportation community has been an advocate for public transportation and a supporter of high-speed rail and expanded Amtrak service.

Illinois Senate 16: Jacqueline Collins, Democrat  WON!
Website: jacquelinecollins.org

Jaqueline Collins is a consistent vote for Illinois' environment. From toxics to renewable energy she has voted to protect the health and future of Illinois' families.

Collins recently opposed efforts to lift a landfill moratorium in Cook County.

Illinois Senate 22: Mike Noland, Democrat  WON!
Website: noland.org

Mike Noland is endorsed for Illinois Senate District 22. Noland was the chief co-sponsor of 2011's net-metering bill in the Senate. He was also a moving force behind the law to enable school districts to buy remotely located wind power. Sen. Noland is committed to:

Illinois Senate 23: Tom Cullerton, Democrat  WON!
Website: tomcullertonforsenate.com

As president of Villa Park Tom Cullerton has led the village in several environmental endeavors including a rain barrel program, electronics recycling and replacing retired vehicles with hybrids.  Villa Park is a Sierra Club Cool City having signed the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement which expires this year.  Villa Park, under Cullerton’s leadership, is on track to become the second city in Illinois to sign Cool Cities 2.0, Local Sustainability Agreement.   His questionnaire and interview reveal a particular interest in green technology and infrastructure.  He hopes to be a leader in mass transit and energy issues.  As a second cousin to a founder of the Conservation Foundation, he has an affinity for open spaces.  

Illinois Senate 28: Dan Kotowski, Democrat  WON!
Website: dankotowski.com

The Sierra Club is pleased to continue our endorsement of Senator Dan Kotowski for re-election in 2012. A longtime supporter of the environment, Kotowski The senator also supports alternative, clean methods of transportation, such as increasing bike and carpool lanes and giving tax credits to those who purchase electric cars.

Illinois Senate 29: Julie Morrison, Democrat  WON!
Website: juliemorrisonforstatesenate.com

Julie Morrison is a newcomer to state government. She supports protecting the lakefront, open lands and forest preserves. She has helped to organize recycling days, and worked on a program called "We Care", which keeps furniture clothing and small appliances out of landfills by connecting local people in need with the items.

Morrison also supports clean energy policies that will help reduce our carbon emissions, and as a township supervisor was part of an effort to install more energy efficient lighting

Illinois Senate 30: Terry Link, Democrat  WON!
Website: senatorlink30.com

Terry Link has been a long-time supporter of environmental initiatives. He has routinely supported efforts to protect Lake Michigan and recently voted to change the plumbing code to adopt more water efficient technologies.

Link remains committed to clean energy and energy efficiency, and voted to improve net metering, which will help foster the development of more clean energy jobs.

Illinois Senate 31: Melinda Bush, Democrat  WON!
Website: melindaforsenate.com

Melinda Bush is a proven champion of Illinois’s natural heritage and a defender of community health. She has voted in favor of purchasing and protecting the Rollins Savanna for the Lake County Forest Preserve. Melinda Bush has kept safe environmental practices high on her agenda, including opposing the incineration of solid waste and aiming for a 40 percent recycling goal in Lake County. If elected Bush can be expected to continue her work towards sustainability with more investment in green jobs and continued protection of wetlands and the Great Lakes.

Illinois Senate 34: Steve Stadelman, Democrat  WON!
Website: stadelmanforsenate.com

Steve Stadelman as a former tv reporter has learned how to investigate issues in depth. He supports the development of clean energy technology and is especially interested in the intersection between clean energy and a good job.

Stadelman supports sustainable Department of Natural Resources funding, as he has seen first hand the back log of repairs at state parks near his home.

Illinois Senate 39: Don Harmon, Democrat  WON!
Website: NA

Don Harmon has sponsored several pro-environment initiatives including those that established Illinois' Renewable Portfolio Standard. Recently, he sponsored and passed a bill that improved net metering in the state, and will help additional renewable energy to come online.

Harmon has also supported efforts to create a sustainable revenue source for the Department of Natural Resources

Illinois Senate 40: Toi Hutchinson, Democrat  WON!
Website: toihutchinson.com

Toi Hutchinson’s record for her previous term shows a candidate ready and willing to protect our health and environment. In the last session, the senator established the Environmental Justice Commission, which is dedicated to protecting minority communities that often get the brunt of pollution from power plants and industry. Hutchinson supports legislation to protect both urban and wild environments—remediation for the Kankakee River Basin, continued funding for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the expansion of high-speed rail and mass transit.

Illinois Senate 42: Linda Holmes, Democrat  WON!
Website: lindaholmesforsenate.com

Linda Holmes has been a supporter of policies that promote clean energy and energy efficiency. She has helped to expand net metering opportunities while emphasizing the importance of local action.

Holmes also recognizes the need to establish water quality safeguards before hydraulic fracturing operations begin in the state.

Illinois Senate 43: Pat McGuire, Democrat  WON!
Website: patmcguireforsenate.com

Pat McGuire has quickly established himself as a legislator concerned about worker health and the environment. His district is dotted with heavy industry and refineries, and he seeks to find the best solution for the environment and public health.

McGuire has supported protecting public water supplies from the potential harm caused by hydraulic fracturing and been a supporter of creating a sustainable funding stream for the Department of Natural Resources.

Illinois Senate 46: Dave Koehler, Democrat  WON!
Website: koehlerforsenate.com

Dave Koehler has become an important voice for energy efficiency. He has sponsored several bills that have helped to expand efficiency in the state. He realizes that efficiency measures are not only good for protecting our environment, but also for our pocketbooks.

Koehler is also a strong supporter of keeping our state parks open and maintained by creating a sustainable funding source for the Department of Natural Resources.

Illinois Senate 52: Mike Frerichs, Democrat  WON!
Website: mikeforillinois.com

Mike Frerichs helped move environmentalists and the agriculture industry closer to a clean water future. Frerichs sponsored legislation that allowed the ag industry to levy a self-imposed fee based on the tonnage of fertilizer sold. All of the revenue raised will be used to develop state of the art strategies for keeping fertilizers on farm fields and out of our water supplies.

Frerichs doubled down on clean water when he required that Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) pay a pollution permit discharge fee. The fee will be used to fund Illinois EPA efforts to enforce the Clean Water Act.

Illinois Senate 56: Bill Haine, Democrat  WON!
Website: haineforsenate.com

Bill Haine underscored his commitment to transitioning Illinois to clean energy by voting no on several bad new coal plant projects. Haine recognized that the cost of the new plants would heavily impact, local school districts, hospitals and ratepayers.

Haine is also a champion for managing stormwater. He understands that absorbing water where it falls protects families from flooding and keeps our water cleaner.

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