National Environmental Groups Endorse Will Lawrence, Donavan McKinney for U.S. House

Today, Food & Water Action, Oil Change Action, Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, Climate Hawks Vote, GrayPAC, and Friends of the Earth Action endorsed Will Lawrence and Donavan McKinney for U.S. House in Michigan’s 7th and 13th Congressional District, respectively.

The announcement comes as Michigan reels from over a dozen widely-opposed hyper-scale data center proposals across 11 counties. Both candidates support a nationwide data center moratorium proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has announced plans to introduce accompanying House legislation imminently.

Lawrence is a long time climate organizer and co-founder of the nationwide Sunrise Movement. In contrast, his primary opponent Bridget Brink held a campaign fundraiser last week hosted by the head of international government relations at ExxonMobil. McKinney is a state Representative representing his native northeast Detroit, and an outspoken proponent of environmental justice. In the state legislature, McKinney fought for and secured important advancements in water accessibility and affordability, including over $600 million in funding to replace lead water pipes in the Detroit metro area. Both candidates are vocal about ending fossil fuel expansion, holding the fossil fuel industry accountable, and protecting Michiganders’ health, air and water from the climate crisis and polluting corporations.

Food & Water Action Political Director Sam Bernhardt said:

“Will Lawrence and Donavan McKinney are environmental justice champions with the progressive vision needed to stop data centers’ assault on Michigan’s air, water, communities and climate. As data center developers seek to deepen corporate polluters’ stranglehold on the state, we are proud to endorse Lawrence and McKinney to fight for a better future for Michiganders.”

Oil Change Action Campaigns Manager Allie Rosenbluth said:

“At a moment when utility companies and corporate data center developers are trying to lock in decades of new fossil fuel infrastructure, Michigan needs leaders willing to stand up to polluters and fight for a renewable energy future. Will Lawrence and Donavan McKinney have both demonstrated that kind of leadership. As signers of the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, they have committed to putting people ahead of fossil fuel profits and advancing solutions that match the scale of the climate crisis. From McKinney’s work championing environmental justice and a Green New Deal to Lawrence’s record of climate organizing and holding polluters accountable, both candidates understand that protecting communities means ending our dependence on fossil fuels. We are proud to endorse them for Congress.”

Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund National Political Director Brett Hartl said:

“Michigan is a bellwether state for how our country will address the biggest environmental challenges of the day, including protecting our air and water from polluters, addressing the scourge of reckless AI data center sprawl, and protecting our climate. Donavan McKinney and Will Lawrence will stand up to the billionaire class and make sure that each and every person in this country can live in a healthy environment free from pollution, and we can’t wait to see what they do in Congress.”  

Climate Hawks Vote founder RL Miller said: 

“Both Will Lawrence and Donavan McKinney are the choices of grassroots climate activists living in their Michigan districts, for good reasons. Will is an original founder of the Sunrise Movement, and Donavan has led on environmental justice in the state legislature. We’re excited to endorse them both.”

GrayPAC Democracy Campaigns Manager Mike Johnson said: 

“In America’s heartland, voters are desperate for leaders who will put their communities and families first. Will Lawrence and Donavan McKinney will be fighters who stand up to polluters and special interests that seek to harm Michigan’s way of life. 

Friends of the Earth Action Director of Public Affairs Ariel Moger said:  

“Michigan families deserve clean air, clean water, and a livable climate, not a state handed over to fossil fuel interests and unchecked AI data centers. Will Lawrence and Donavan McKinney understand what’s at stake, and they have the backbone to do something about it. Friends of the Earth Action is thrilled to endorse them.” 

Media contact: Lindsay Tice, 202-783-7400, ext. 8403 , [email protected]

Food & Water Action, the political and lobbying arm of the national advocacy group Food & Water Watch, mobilizes people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people’s health, communities and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests. 

Oil Change Action, a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, is dedicated to supporting real climate leadership, exposing the true costs of fossil fuels, and building a just, equitable, and renewable energy future in the United States.

The Center Action Fund is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for legislation and legislators that will advance a progressive environmental agenda. The Center Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Center for Biological Diversity, but these organizations’ names are not interchangeable. This news release is from the Center Action Fund, not the Center for Biological Diversity. 

Climate Hawks Vote works to build grassroots political power for the climate movement…and we win our races. 

GrayPAC is the political action committee of Third Act, mobilizing Americans over 60 to elect leaders and support policies for a sustainable and vibrant future for our democracy and climate.

Friends of the Earth (Action), Inc. fights for transformational environmental policy and pushes political discourse to center justice and the environment. Friends of the Earth (Action), Inc. is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of Friends of the Earth U.S., but these organizations’ names are not interchangeable. This news release is from Friends of the Earth (Action), Inc., not Friends of the Earth.  

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.