Youth climate group endorses Terán

The Sunrise Movement, a national climate action organization, has endorsed congressional candidate Raquel Terán in the Arizona primary election. Terán’s commitment to taking on the oil and gas lobby and supporting the Green New Deal won her the endorsement. The Sunrise Movement will also support voter outreach efforts, with plans to contact over 10,000 voters by July 30; their efforts will primarily concentrate on younger voters, who are more likely to prioritize climate as a key issue.

The Sunrise Movement, a prominent climate action group renowned for engaging young voters, is endorsing Raquel Terán in a high-stakes Arizona congressional primary. Terán successfully clinched the endorsement from the climate organization, which boasts chapters in Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson, on the commencement day of early voting for the July primary election – exclusively revealed by The Copper Courier.

“In light of the escalating heat that is proving fatal for Arizonans with each passing year, leaders such as Terán, who are unafraid to stand up to the oil and gas industry lobbying for the Green New Deal, are crucial,” stated Ashton Dolce from Sunrise Phoenix. Given that extreme summer heat is proving lethal for hundreds of Phoenix inhabitants, it is imperative to have a community organizer who will safeguard our communities and champion our concerns in Congress.

Substantial grassroots support

This endorsement is not without considerable backing, as both nationwide and local groups have pledged to heavily invest in voter engagement initiatives for Terán, which aim to reach over 10,000 voters by July 30. Other organisations such as the Working Families Party, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), and Indivisible have promised similar support.

Sunrise’s initiatives primarily target younger voters, who often rank climate change as a top concern. The group reported in 2020 that it reached over 4 million voters via phone calls, texts, and postcards. These efforts contributed to shaping the Biden-Harris administration’s climate policy and earned Sunrise’s leaders a seat at the table with White House officials.

Focus on climate issues

In the CD3 race, a Democratic stronghold currently held by US Rep. Ruben Gallego, climate is a central issue. Yassamin Ansari, a former Phoenix City Council member competing against Terán, has consistently presented herself as a climate-focused candidate. Ansari, who was a climate advisor for the United Nations when the Paris Climate Agreement was fashioned in 2015, advocated for investments in clean energy and reduced carbon emissions during her three-year City Council tenure.

Ansari, however, has not adopted the Green New Deal, a proposal championed by Sunrise that intertwines economic policy with climate change action. This proposal is viewed as a litmus test for progressive individuals in US Congress—one that Ansari did not pass, whereas Terán did.

Terán’s previous accomplishments in the state Legislature, paired with her role as chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, were pivotal in securing Sunrise’s endorsement, as highlighted by Stevie O’Hanlon, the organization’s national communications director.

“Terán’s record includes championing workers’ rights, standing up to the wealthy and influential, and achieving victories. Her legislative efforts to broaden healthcare access, protect abortion rights, and tackle climate change are commendable,” O’Hanlon stated. “We need more representatives like her in Congress, who will not hesitate to challenge the oil and gas industry and advocate for a Green New Deal.”