STATEMENT: Public lands candidates win big across the West

U.S. House committees poised to provide long-overdue oversight of Ryan Zinke, Interior Department

DENVER—After a historic election night that saw public lands champions win key statewide, federal, and county races in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:

“In an election where public lands played a key role in Western races, the results are a strong repudiation of Ryan Zinke’s agenda. Incoming governors, senators, representatives, and even county commissioners won their races with promises to stop the Trump administration’s attack on America’s parks and public lands.

“In the House, Congressman Ra√∫l Grijalva has been the most prominent voice holding Secretary Zinke and Deputy Secretary Bernhardt accountable. Now, Grijalva and his colleagues on the House Natural Resources Committee are poised to bring long-overdue oversight and transparency to the Interior Department. For the last two years, the public has been shut out of decisions that affect America’s public lands. We’re hopeful that will change quickly come January.”

Election night highlights

• In New Mexico, pro-public lands candidates won races for senator, governor, and public lands commissioner. Senator Martin Heinrich sailed to an easy re-election on a campaign that focused heavily on his record as a supporter of conservation and public lands access.

• In Nevada, one of the most vehement public lands opponents remaining in the West, Adam Laxalt, lost his bid to become governor. Voters also rejected anti-public lands extremist Ryan Bundy’s bid for governor. Governor-elect Steve Sisolak and Senator-elect Jacky Rosen both ran on pro-public lands platforms.

• In Colorado, Jared Polis won the governor’s race with a campaign that explicitly tied his opponent to Ryan Zinke’s public lands attacks. Jason Crow unseated incumbent Mike Coffman with a conservation-focused campaign.

• In Utah, the San Juan County Commission appears poised to flip to a majority that supports the protection of Bears Ears National Monument as designated by President Obama.

In July, the Center for Western Priorities released our Winning the West 2018 poll, showing the growing influence of the “Outdoor Voting Bloc” in Mountain West swing states. To learn more, visit winningthewest2018.org.

For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.