Sonia Chang-Díaz is a former public school teacher and the first Latina and Asian-American to serve in the Massachusetts State Senate — and she’s spent her career fighting for and winning the bold change that working families need. Sonia’s mom was a social worker. Her dad came to America with $50 in his pocket and became NASA’s first Latino astronaut. Now she’s building a movement to tackle our state’s biggest challenges and restore Massachusetts’ promise to all families.
The fight against climate change isn’t about just one issue — it’s the whole ballgame. Climate change touches nearly every problem we face today and threatens the future of our families and communities. Massachusetts should meet this moment and lead the nation in protecting our planet, greening our infrastructure and creating good jobs with a Green New Deal for our state, and standing with communities of color to fight the disproportionate impacts of climate change and build generational wealth in the green economy.
For 12 years in the Senate, Sonia has stood up to the fossil fuel industry and led the charge for environmental justice. She backed key legislation to commit the state to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and write environmental justice into Massachusetts law. This session, she also organized 28 legislators to call for ending state incentives for new fossil fuel infrastructure. She’s also fought for legislation to create equitable access to solar energy and protect communities that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution.
Sonia won’t take campaign donations from fossil fuel executives. Instead, she’s standing shoulder to shoulder with climate scientists and activists and will lead the fight for real change in the governor’s office.
As Governor, Sonia will:
Pass a Massachusetts Green New Deal to build our new green energy economy, electrify our infrastructure across the state, and create good jobs with family-sustaining wages.
Establish a 100% renewable, carbon-free electric grid by 2030.
Eliminate all carbon emissions from new buildings by 2030 and transition existing buildings to become zero-carbon by 2045.
Decarbonize, expand, and make fare-free public transit to reduce fossil fuel emissions and build a 21st century transit system to connect communities across our state.
Veto all tax credits and government support for new fossil fuel infrastructure.
Eliminate barriers to renewable energy faced by low-income communities and communities of color.
Pass new legislation to protect communities disproportionately impacted by air and water pollution.