Mark Ronchetti and Yvette Herrell Make the League of Conservation Voters’ ‘Dirty Dozen’ List of Worst Candidates on Climate
Earlier this month, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released the final “Dirty Dozen” lists of the worst federal and state candidates on climate across the United States. New Mexico GOP gubernatorial nominee, Mark Ronchetti and Representative Yvette Herrell ascended the lists as candidates who pose an immense, immediate threat to our environment and will put New Mexicans at risk.
“Mark Ronchetti and Yvette Herrell pose a direct threat to the future of New Mexico’s clean land, air, and water,” said Daniel Garcia, Communications Director for the Democratic Party of New Mexico. “The League of Conservation Voters agrees that their irresponsible anti-climate agendas could set New Mexico back generations.”
Here’s what the LCV has to say about these candidates’ record on climate:
Modeled after LCV Victory Fund’s federal Dirty Dozen, the Dirty Dozen in the States highlights 12 of the worst environmental candidates in the nation at the state and local level.
Members of the Dirty Dozen in the States have consistently sided against the environment and are a danger to our democracy. These candidates are chosen regardless of party affiliation and are running in races prioritized by LCV state affiliates in the Conservation Voter Movement.
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New Mexico Governor – Mark Ronchetti – Nominated by Conservation Voters New Mexico Verde Voters Fund
Under current Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s leadership, the state has had more pro-climate and conservation executive action and legislation than at any time in the state’s history. All of these accomplishments are under threat from Mark Ronchetti. Ronchetti is a local weatherman who has made climate denying statements; “Climate change doesn’t cause fires, come on!” He has also accepted over $300,000 in contributions directly tied to the oil and gas industry. Conservation Voters of New Mexico believes the Governor’s race in New Mexico will be the most consequential event for the state’s future in a generation.
For more than 25 years, our Dirty Dozen program has targeted candidates — regardless of party affiliation — who consistently side against the environment and are running in races in which LCV Victory Fund has a serious chance to affect the outcome.
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Yvette Herell
Representative Yvette Herrell lands on LCV Victory Fund’s Dirty Dozen list thanks to her awful anti-environmental record in both the New Mexico state legislature and Congress. As a member of the state House of Representatives, Herrell maintained a longstanding relationship with the Koch-funded lobbying group ALEC and proposed an extreme attack on New Mexico’s public lands. In Congress, she has consistently sided with corporate polluters – earning an abysmal 0% score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard. Unsurprisingly, Herrell is one of the top 10 recipients of oil and gas contributions in the House, having already raked in more than $155,000 from the oil and gas industry this cycle. And despite the largest climate-fueled wildfire in New Mexico’s history ravaging her state and displacing thousands, Herrell praised the Supreme Court decision to undermine EPA authority to regulate climate pollution under the Clean Air Act. She’s also voted against legislation to crack down on price gouging by the oil and gas industry.
