2008 ELECTION RESULTS
In 2008, Defenders Action Fund set out determined to build on our past successes and to increase the conservation majority in the US Congress even further.
We chose target races where we believed we could not just help defeat staunch anti-conservation members of Congress, but also help replace them with new pro-conservation members. Among our conservation victories were two new Senators and two new House Representatives, and we managed to defeat three of the environment’s biggest congressional enemies in the process.
Read our 2008 Election Scorecard to learn more about our campaigns.
Defenders Action Fund also played a big part in the presidential race. When John McCain unexpectedly chose Governor Palin as his running mate, we, unlike most groups involved in presidential politics, already knew a lot about her record and her policies in Alaska. Within days we had TV ads on the air across swing states highlighting Sarah Palin’s anti-wildlife agenda, shining a light on her support for the aerial killing of wolves.
2008 FEATURED RACES
New Mexico - Congressman Tom Udall elected to the Senate!
Rep. Tom Udall was a true champion on conservation and environment issues in the House of Representatives and now he will bring those values to the U.S. Senate.
Udall's GOP opponents, Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce, were among the most anti-environmental members of Congress. Both have took hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from the big oil, gas and mining industries and repeatedly voted against clean energy legislation as well as bills that combat global warming.
Read the election night press release
Watch Ads from our New Mexico Campaign.
Take a look at Photos from the Campaign.
New Mexico - Martin Heinrich elected to the U.S. Congress!
Martin Heinrich showed a commitment to conservation during his time as a Councilman, Natural Resources Trustee and Executive Director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation. His opponent, Darren White, blindly supported George Bush's disastrous energy policies.
Defenders Action Fund worked hard to elect Heinrich, who we know will provide the leadership necessary to help combat global warming.
Read the election night press release.
Colorado - Betsy Markey elected to the U.S. Congress!
Betsy Markey is committed to harnessing Colorado's enormous potential for producing clean energy and helping America reduce its dependency on foreign oil. As the new representative of Colorado’s 4th district, she will help provide the leadership and support needed to tackle global warming and help protect our precious natural resources.
She replaced Marilyn Musgrave, who repeatedly voted against the environment and against the interests of the people of Colorado. Read more on Marilyn Musgrave's voting record.
Defenders Action Fund worked hard in Colorado's 4th District to help elect Betsey Markey.
Read the election night press release.
Colorado - Mark Udall elected to the Senate!
Mark Udall served the best interests of his constituents in Colorado's 2nd District for ten years, and now he serves the whole state as the newly elected Senator.
In 2007 he received a 90% score on the Defenders Action Fund Conservation Report Card, shoring up a lifetime score of 98%. His support for clean energy solutions and protection of America's air land and water earned him our support in his 2008 run for US Senate.
His opponent, former Congressman Bob Schaffer voted for tax breaks for Big Oil. So it wasn't surprising that he went on to earn big money as an oil executive after leaving Congress. Mark Udall supports the solutions that will lead America to a clean and secure energy future.
Read the election night press release.
Other Races
The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund targeted many different congressional races all over the United States. All Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund targets have a zero or near-zero voting record in the Action Fund's Wildlife Conservation Report Card.
Full list of 2008 congressional incumbent endorsees >>
Read the congressional endorsement press release >>
