Friends of the Earth Action Endorses Villegas, Mejia and Busse for Congress

WASHINGTON — Friends of the Earth Action is endorsing Randy Villegas (CA-22), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) and Ryan Busse (MT-01) for Congress as early voting begins in some areas. 

Villegas is a political newcomer and college professor who has embraced progressive policy priorities like Medicare for All, price caps on prescriptions, and free public higher education. As a school board trustee, he put the health and safety of children first by banning the use of a popular toxic pesticide on school property. He’s raised over $1 million for his campaign while refusing contributions from corporate PACs. 

Representing California’s 22^nd Congressional District, Villegas will work to hold corporate polluters accountable, protect public lands, fight for the health and safety of farmworkers, and put people ahead of corporations. 

Mejia is a longtime civil and labor rights advocate and bold progressive who recently won the NJ-11 Congressional seat by 20 percentage points in a special election. The first bill she introduced would raise the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour.   

Mejia’s progressive platform includes free public higher education, Medicare for All, and a minimum income tax for billionaires. An environmental champion, she will work to stop the rapid AI data center buildout, improve New Jersey’s public transportation infrastructure, and hold corporate polluters accountable.  

A passionate outdoorsman, Busse and his wife raised their two boys hunting, fishing, and exploring Montana’s public lands. Busse is a former firearms executive who left the industry fearing irresponsible political extremism, and he now works to end gun violence.  

Busse is a respected state and national conservation leader who understands the vital importance of public lands, clean air and water, and keeping Montana affordable. As a member of Congress representing Montana’s 1st Congressional District, Busse will fight for Montana, its people, and its land. 

“We are thrilled to support Randy Villegas, Analilia Mejia and Ryan Busse for Congress. They are all bold environmental champions and the kind of fierce advocates we need in Congress right now— grassroots leaders who stand firm against corporate bullies, who understand that climate action and economic justice go hand in hand, and who will work for the betterment of their communities, not the enrichment of billionaires,” said Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth Action. “We urge voters to show their support in the coming weeks.”    

Early voting starts this week for the Democratic primaries in Montana and California. Voting in New Jersey starts later this month.  

Media contact: Lindsay Tice, Friends of the Earth Action, [email protected] 

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.