Washington, DC – Today, Washington Conservation Action Votes announced the addition of ballot initiative 2117 to the 2024 Dirty Dozen in the States. This comes after the previously announced 12 state and local candidates on the 2024 Dirty Dozen in the States. Modeled after LCV Victory Fund’s federal Dirty Dozen, the Dirty Dozen in the States highlights 12 of the worst candidates in the nation at the state and local level. This year, Washington Conservation Action Votes took the extraordinary step of adding a ballot initiative to the list for the first time.

Members of the Dirty Dozen in the States are usually candidates that have consistently sided against the environment and are a danger to our democracy. These are chosen regardless of party affiliation and are running in races prioritized by LCV state affiliates in the Conservation Voter Movement. This is the first time we have added a ballot initiative, highlighting the danger this measure presents. 

Washington – Initiative 2117 (Nominated by Washington Conservation Action Votes) 

This is the first time a ballot initiative has appeared on the Dirty Dozen in the States. But this measure is so dangerous that it merited this unprecedented step. I-2117 is one of the biggest attacks on clean energy in the country. Washington state is among those leading the nation in bold climate action thanks to a pro-environment legislature and climate champion Governor Jay Inslee. But this initiative would roll back key progress in this fight, prohibiting any state agencies from implementing a cap on pollution and repeal the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act – Washington’s landmark cap and invest program. I-2117 is opposed by a broad coalition of over 500 state organizations including firefighters, health advocates, labor unions, farmers, and a majority of the federally recognized Tribes in Washington who all support climate action, holding polluters accountable, and investing in the communities hardest hit by pollution and climate change. The outcome of the election will send a national signal for the possibilities – or limits – of state climate action.

The over 30 state Conservation Voter Movement partners worked to determine the 2024 “Dirty Dozen in the States.” The candidates and measures named are some of the most anti-environment and anti-democracy on the ballot in competitive state-level races from governor to city officials and everywhere in between.

The “Dirty Dozen in the States” is modeled after LCV Victory Fund’s “Dirty Dozen,” which has targeted candidates for federal office (with occasional exceptions)— 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.