Preserving and protecting our environment is a political process

Elections

We work on electing environmentally minded legislators with the hope that they'll enact the environmental protections our communities need.  Our volunteers are actively involved in endorsing pro-environment candidates and then working for their election.  Find our more here. 

Lobbying

During our legislative session and in other decision-making forums we engage as grassroots lobbyists, working to inform and motivate our legislators to take action for clean air and clean water.  Get involved here.

Interested in helping environmental champions get elected?

  1. Fill out our elections volunteer form
  2. Donate to Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club PAC
  3. Contact our political chair, Richard Barish at richard.barish@gmail.com

Featured image from Wikimedia Commons

Recent political news

Federal Climate Rollback Raises Stakes for New Mexico Legislature to Pass the Clear Horizons Act
February 11, 2026. As the Trump administration moves to rescind the EPA’s Endangerment Finding, NM lawmakers face an urgent decision of their own. With federal climate protections being dismantled, the Clear Horizons Act (SB18) represents the state’s best opportunity to ensure long-term planning, protect families from rising costs driven by extreme weather and harmful pollution, and hold major polluters accountable here at home. SB18 will be heard on the Senate floor today ...
Second Senate Committee Advances Clear Horizons Act as Smart Planning for New Mexico Businesses and Families
On February 7, the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee advanced the Clear Horizons Act (SB 18) on a 6-4 vote, moving New Mexico closer to a long-term planning framework that provides certainty for businesses, protects family budgets, and supports stable economic growth across the state ...

Clear Horizons Act Advances

Clear Horizons Act Advances
February 3, 2026: The Clear Horizons Act advanced today in the Senate Conservation Committee on a 5-4 vote after a high-turnout hearing moved to the Senate floor to accommodate public interest. Lawmakers heard two hours of public comment, including a full hour of testimony from supporters ...
Bill advanced to monitor disease-bearing mosquitoes
On January 29, the New Mexico Senate Conservation Committee unanimously voted to advance a bill that would monitor an invasion of disease-bearing mosquito species that have been spreading across New Mexico for the past decade ...
Clear Horizons Act Introduced to Protect New Mexico Families from Rising Costs
On January 22, lawmakers formally introduced the Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 18), a plan to provide long-term planning, stability, and accountability from the harmful effects of polluting industries. As New Mexican families continue to face rising costs associated with the waste and byproducts of polluting industries, leaders in Santa Fe are responding with actionable legislation ...
Club priorities for 2026 Legislature. Rio Grande Chapter plans to make the most of session by focusing on climate action durability.
The upcoming year and its 30-day legislative sessionh will be last for Governor Luján Grisham. This administration, legislature and grassroots supporters have achieved so much, from decriminalizing abortion to establishing free pre-K, all while stabilizing impacts from the boom-and-bust fossil fuel economy and protecting us from global collapse. Here’s what to expect in the upcoming session ...
2025 Municipal Elections – Santa Fe & Las Cruces
Rio Grande Chapter endorsements for 2025 municipal elections in Santa Fe and Las Cruces. There are no state-wide races ...
2025 Municipal Elections – Albuquerque
Rio Grande Chapter endorsements for 2025 municipal elections in Albuquerque. There are no state-wide races ...