The Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter on Sunday endorsed U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono for U.S. Senate, giving the congresswoman an edge in the environmental community to go with her support from labor unions and traditional Democrats.
The endorsement is significant because environmental advocates have become increasingly influential in Democratic politics and, like labor unions, can mobilize voters behind candidates they favor. The Sierra Club’s decision to back Hirono over former Congressman Ed Case, her opponent in the primary election, is a coup for Hirono because Case has a strong environmental record.
The Sierra Club also announced on Sunday — Earth Day — that it would support U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, for re-election in urban Honolulu’s 1st Congressional District and City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard in the rural Oahu and the neighbor island 2nd Congressional District.
Steve Montgomery, the Sierra Club’s political co-chairman, described Hirono as "a proven green advocate."
"Hirono continues to be on the forefront, pushing for a cleaner, more efficient, more energy-independent future for Hawaii," Montgomery said in a statement.
Hirono, who was also endorsed by Ocean Champions, said she is committed to greater energy independence.
"For hundreds of years, Native Hawaiians relied upon the land and the sea to develop a sustainable way of life. Unfortunately, Hawaii has strayed from this wise use of our natural resources, and we have become too dependent on other countries and the mainland for our food and our energy," the congresswoman said in a statement. "Like the Sierra Club and Ocean Champions, I am committed to a more sustainable and secure Hawaii future that supports our local farmers and fishing industry and wisely invests in home-grown energy sources including ocean energy, solar power, biofuels and wind."
Hirono and Case have received high ratings nationally from the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters.
Case said the question is which Democrat can provide effective leadership over the next generation in the Senate.
"That won’t be achieved through endless partisan warfare and inaction," he said in an email Sunday. "I’m committed to fighting for our earth, and have shown that I can produce results, such as my work with a Republican administration to achieve the most significant marine conservation initiative in our country’s history, creation of the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument. I’ve also laid out a detailed Senate agenda on energy independence and environmental protection while my opponent has laid out no agenda on any subject."
Former Gov. Linda Lingle, the leading Republican candidate for Senate, has also made energy independence a theme of her campaign.
The Sierra Club’s endorsements were an issue in the last competitive Senate campaign in Hawaii. The environmental group chose not to endorse in the 2006 primary between Case and U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, when drilling for oil and natural gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was one of the main policy differences between the two Democrats. Akaka supported drilling as a means of economic self-determination for Alaska Natives. Case opposed drilling.
The Sierra Club endorsed Akaka in the general election over state Rep. Cynthia Thielen (R, Kailua-Kaneohe), an environmental attorney who opposed drilling and has among the strongest environmental records in the state.
