CLIMATE CRUSADER — Actress Jane Fonda is wading into California politics like never before, unveiling her largest slate of climate-friendly candidate endorsements to date ahead of Tuesday’s primary. Fonda has been an activist for decades and even briefly mulled adding her name to a long list of replacement candidates in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election. But what’s new this cycle is the extent to which she’s boosting progressive candidates with fundraising through her Jane Fonda Climate PAC. The California arm of Fonda’s PAC has raised more than $1.7 million this cycle. But the PAC’s real power is Fonda’s following — and her email list asking fans to donate to those she deems climate champions. Playbook asked Fonda about her latest foray into Golden State campaigns and whether she might run for office herself. Highlights from our email exchange with her: You’ve endorsed your largest slate of California candidates through your climate PAC. What made you want to get so involved ahead of the primary this cycle? At JanePAC, we're not afraid to jump into primary elections when there is a strong climate champion running. In the California Legislature, there were a lot of open seats that were formerly held by Democrats who weren't doing enough for the environment. So we saw a real opportunity to elect a new slate of climate champions in California. And it's always better to get involved early, than to get in late. What qualities do you look for when making an endorsement? And what separates the talkers from the real climate hawks in your estimation? We look for candidates who have a proven track record of protecting the environment and who aren't afraid to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable. We seek out candidates who have led on policy or worked on climate justice efforts in their own communities. We look for people who will prioritize climate and the health of their constituents, not just list it as one of many issues on their websites. We focus on down-ballot races because that's where we believe we can make the biggest impact on the climate crisis. We also focus on races where the balance of power is up for grabs on supervisor boards, state legislatures, city councils and more. And we work to elect climate champions in frontline communities that are being inundated with fossil fuel pollution and are in desperate need of representation. Is there any area where you think state lawmakers in Sacramento have been too slow or too timid in pursuing policies to reduce planet-warming emissions? For far too long the fossil fuel industry has gotten away with poisoning California communities. Millions of Californians live near oil and gas wells, and we know that communities of color are disproportionately impacted by toxic fossil fuel pollution. The setback law that created a 3,200 foot health buffer between new oil drilling and homes and schools was a historic step forward, but now Big Oil is trying to overturn the law. It's clear that California's elected officials need to go on the offense since Big Oil is hell-bent on blocking progress. They must use all of the legislative tools at their disposal to reduce fossil fuel pollution and protect our health. I noticed that all of your California endorsees this cycle are women, people of color or LGBTQ people. Was that intentional? It was not intentional, we just find that many of the fiercest climate champions are women, people of color and/or LGBTQ. If we can help elect climate champions and increase representation in our government, then it's a win-win for California. What’s next for you in terms of climate advocacy? Have you considered running for office yourself? One of the advantages of growing old is that you’ve (hopefully) learned what your strengths are and what they aren’t. Being an elected official would not play to my strengths. Helping elect climate champions at all levels of government at this moment in human history is the most important work I have ever done in my life and this is what I am dedicating myself to. We have a brilliant, experienced team and I know that this is the most strategic thing we can be doing now to provide a sustainable, healthy future for ourselves, our children and all living things. Fonda’s endorsements this cycle, via her PAC and/or social media: Katie Porter (Senate); Laura Friedman (House); Monica Wilson, Brian Calderón Tabatabai, Sade Elhawary, Javier Hernandez and Christy Holstege (state Assembly); and Marisol Rubio, Eloise Gómez Reyes, Alex Mohajer, Sasha Renée Pérez (state Senate).
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