How Does Vermont Conservation Voters Decide Which Candidates to Endorse?

Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) endorses candidates who support pro-democracy and environmental positions, then works to elect them. According to the organization, its endorsement process is tied to its broader mission: electing officials who will protect air, water, wildlife, land, communities, and democracy, and then holding those officials accountable. The site states that VCV endorses "candidates who vote for the environment" and works to elect them, and it reports that a percentage of its endorsed candidates were elected in 2024 (the exact figure appears on the homepage as a statistic).

What the Endorsement Covers

VCV's endorsements are not limited to a single office or region. The site shows the organization endorsing a full slate of statewide candidates. In a September 8, 2026 announcement, VCV endorsed:

  • Amanda Janoo for Governor
  • Molly Gray for Lieutenant Governor
  • Charity Clark for Attorney General
  • Mike Pieciak (the excerpt cuts off, but the pattern is a full statewide slate)

This indicates VCV's endorsement scope includes top statewide offices, not just legislative races.

The Basis for Endorsement

The site does not publish a detailed, step-by-step endorsement rubric, but the stated criteria are consistent across its materials:

  • Environmental voting and positions — VCV says it endorses candidates "who vote for the environment."
  • Pro-democracy stance — the mission pairs environmental protection with electing "pro-democracy" candidates.
  • Alignment with priority issues — VCV works with major environmental groups each year to identify pressing issues, publishes an Environmental Common Agenda of Legislative Priorities, and produces an Environmental Scorecard to hold lawmakers accountable for votes on those priorities.

So the endorsement logic connects to the same priority issues and scorecard used for accountability: candidates are evaluated against the environmental agenda VCV promotes.

What Happens After Endorsement

Endorsement is not just a label. VCV says it "endorses and works to elect" candidates. The site also describes partner activity, such as VCV partnering with VPIRG for a Fall Canvass Tour. This suggests endorsed candidates may receive campaign support, including canvassing and get-out-the-vote efforts.

How to Judge the Impact

The homepage presents a 2024 statistic about the percentage of endorsed candidates elected, positioning it as a measure of effectiveness. If you want to assess VCV's influence, that figure—along with the Environmental Scorecard—is the most direct evidence the site offers. The scorecard tracks how lawmakers vote on priority issues, so you can compare an endorsed candidate's later record against the positions that led to the endorsement.

Where to Find Endorsements and Records

  • Latest News & Updates on the homepage lists endorsement announcements.
  • Endorsements section (linked as "Learn More") covers the endorsement program.
  • Accountability section covers tracking, scoring, and holding lawmakers accountable.
  • Democracy Dispatch podcast provides weekly legislative updates during the session, including interviews with legislators and environmental allies.

If you want to know whether a specific candidate was endorsed, check the endorsement announcements in the news section. If you want to know why, compare the candidate's positions to VCV's Environmental Common Agenda and their later votes in the Environmental Scorecard.

vermontconservationvoters.com