Maryland LCV Announces First Round of Endorsements for the 2026 Election Cycle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 9, 2026) —Today, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) released its first wave of endorsements for incumbent officeholders in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates. These early endorsements represent the first batch of environmental champions that will help usher Maryland into a more sustainable and just future. They come at a time when states have an opportunity to lead on environmental issues and take meaningful actions toward environmental justice.  

The list of endorsed candidates includes Speaker of the House Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who has been an ally of environmental causes during her tenure in the House of Delegates, as well as many members of her leadership team. She and the other endorsed candidates will be key leaders in upcoming legislative efforts. 

“The work of state government has never been more important,” said Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble. “Maryland needs to take bold steps to ensure that all Marylanders have clean air, healthy water, and resilient communities. The elected officials we are endorsing are key to that future, and reflect an invigorated House leadership team that is well-positioned to lead on these vitally important issues in 2026.” 

The endorsed Members — 19 Senators and 32 Delegates are running for re-election in 2026 — have consistently demonstrated their commitment to environmental issues. Each has a high lifetime voting average based on Maryland LCV’s Scorecard ratings for lawmakers, as well as a consistent record of leadership and partnership.  

Additional Maryland LCV endorsements are expected in the coming weeks. 

“Maryland LCV is proud to endorse the re-election of these dedicated public servants,” Coble said. “Maryland is fortunate to have such strong champions working to build on Maryland’s successes and continue to put our state at the forefront of national policies in climate and environmental justice. We look forward to continuing to work with these environmental champions.”  

For more than 45 years, Maryland LCV has proudly campaigned to elect pro-conservation candidates. Before each state election, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) board of directors and staff evaluate the voting records of incumbents as well as candidate responses to comprehensive questionnaires. 

The up-to-date list of Maryland LCV’s 2026 endorsements can be found at www.mdlcv.org/endorsements.  

For the latest information on environmental endorsements, follow Maryland LCV on social media @MDLCV and the hashtag #MDLCVEndorsed. 

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Maryland LCV has served as the trusted, non-partisan resource on environmental issues for Maryland’s elected officials and voters for over 45 years. The Annual Environmental Scorecard and biannual Governor’s Report Card spotlight the environmental votes of elected officials. Maryland LCV’s endorsements signal to voters that a candidate has made a commitment to demonstrate leadership on environmental issues when elected to office.