Sierra Club Endorses Tom Steyer for California Governor

The Sierra Club has officially endorsed Tom Steyer in his campaign for Governor of California, recognising his extensive record of climate advocacy and environmental leadership. The endorsement highlights Steyer’s longstanding commitment to combating climate change, challenging fossil fuel interests, and fostering coalitions that have driven significant environmental progress in the state. Sierra Club leaders emphasised the urgency of strong leadership amid rising living costs and worsening climate impacts, positioning Steyer as the candidate capable of delivering bold and effective action. Steyer’s environmental credentials are rooted in his past efforts to protect and advance California’s clean energy policies. Notably, he played a key role in defeating Proposition 23 in 2010, which sought to suspend the state’s climate regulations, and co-chaired Proposition 39 in 2012, which funded clean energy initiatives in schools. Through his organisation NextGen Policy, Steyer has supported major climate victories, including investments in clean energy and protections for safe drinking water, demonstrating a strategic approach to environmental advocacy that combines funding with coalition-building. Sierra Club representatives praised Steyer’s ability to unite diverse groups, including labour, environmental, and community organisations, around a shared vision for a just and affordable clean energy future. They underscored his readiness to confront entrenched fossil fuel interests and his focus on addressing environmental justice, public health, and affordability. This endorsement also signals the Sierra Club’s intention to mobilise its grassroots network in support of Steyer’s campaign, leveraging its influence to help advance his gubernatorial bid. The endorsement reflects the Sierra Club’s broader mission to maintain California’s leadership in climate action while ensuring that progress benefits the state’s most vulnerable communities. Steyer’s campaign is framed as a continuation of this approach, with an emphasis on urgency and inclusivity in tackling the climate crisis. As the gubernatorial race progresses, the backing of a major environmental organisation like the Sierra Club could prove pivotal in shaping the conversation around climate policy and clean energy in California.