For Immediate Release
October 20, 2025
Contact: Anthony Campisi
C: (732)266-8221
anthony@walnutlanestrategies.com
New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Releases Legislative Scorecard
Leading environmental organization demands strong action to close out the session by passing legislation that delivers lower energy prices and a cleaner environment for New Jersey families
TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey LCV has released its newest legislative scorecard, grading members of the Senate and General Assembly on their votes on key environmental, energy and democracy issues in the 2024-2025 legislative session. While many legislators’ average score was exemplary on the issues that have been presented so far, New Jersey LCV is calling on them to advance historic clean energy legislation in the closing days of the two-year legislative session. It would put the state on the path to 100% clean electricity by 2035, clean up our air, locking in lower energy costs for working families while creating family-sustaining union jobs.
Leading environmental champions include Senators Bob Smith (LD 17 Dem) and John McKeon (LD 37 Dem). Each of these members earned a 100% score from New Jersey LCV. Environment Committee Chairs Senator Bob Smith at 100% and Assemblyman James J. Kennedy (LD 22 Dem) at a score of 92% set leading examples for the rest of the legislature to follow.
The lowest scoring legislators, Assemblyman John Azzaritti (LD 39 Rep) —earning a 38 % score—and Senator Vince Polistina (LD 2 Rep)—earning an abysmal 17 % score—voted to increase energy prices, reduce options for consumers, and endanger their constituents’ environmental health.
“We release our legislative scorecard near the conclusion of every two-year legislative session, so voters know how hard their elected representatives are fighting to lower their energy costs while protecting their air, water and open space,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive director of New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “While we celebrate the work of our environmental champions over the past two years, this scorecard has a big hole in it: legislation that would put us on course for 100% clean electricity by 2035. Solar is now the cheapest form of energy available, the fastest energy to get built, and the healthiest. At a time when Donald Trump is enriching oil and gas billionaires by raising energy costs on working families, New Jersey needs bold leadership to break the grip of dirty fossil fuels and deliver low-cost, renewable energy to every family and local business in New Jersey. It’s time to get to work!”
Overall Democrats in the Senate had an average score of 90% and in the Assembly a score of 91%. Republicans in the Senate had an average score of 59% and Assembly Republicans came in at 63%. Now more than ever as we face high energy costs and work to mitigate climate change, bipartisan support for the environment is critical.
This session produced a few notable victories, including state budgets that delivered the first-ever dedicated source of funding to NJ Transit and open space preservation programs, as well as measures that expanded the use of electric school buses and increased protections for renters against the potential effects of lead service lines.
New Jersey LCV is now calling on the Legislature to finish the job and ensure that our state leads the nation in clean energy by passing 100% clean electricity by 2035 legislation in the upcoming lame duck session.
A copy of the scorecard can be accessed here.