"My promise is that I will always listen. I’m going to work harder than anyone you’ve ever met in your life. I’m going to bring joy, love, and enthusiasm to this job."
Climate Action Rhode Island Endorses Sue AnderBois for Lieutenant Governor, Citing "Strategic Necessity" in Face of Executive Inaction
Climate Action Rhode Island is thrilled to announce our enthusiastic endorsement of Sue AnderBois for Lieutenant Governor. A proven climate champion whom we previously endorsed in her victorious run for the Providence City Council, Sue has been working for a cleaner future alongside CARI and other grassroots environmental groups since our founding in 2017.
The endorsement comes at a critical juncture for Rhode Island. As international climate leader Bill McKibben stated, "Sue AnderBois has shown her energy and climate chops on the Providence City Council. In the current moment, with the Trump administration trying to wreck the energy future for New England, we need to give her kind of vision a chance at a higher level. The lieutenant governor can do the crucial work of working behind the scenes to plan for the future, and she’s the right person for that job."
AnderBois brings unmatched expertise to the role, including having started the Solarize program for Rhode Island’s OER in 2014 and directing The Nature Conservancy’s climate work across the Northeast for years. In the Providence city government, she successfully spearheaded the passage of the “Building Energy Reporting Ordinance,” a law that helps building owners reduce their energy use, as well as an ordinance requiring all municipal buildings to be carbon-neutral by 2040.
"I am honored to have the backing of Climate Action Rhode Island," AnderBois said. "The climate crisis isn’t some distant threat; we are already seeing it in rising sea levels, more intense storms, and polluted air. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll not only fight to transition Rhode Island to a clean energy economy that supports good local jobs, but also ensure our communities and coastlines are resilient."
Justin Boyan, CARI’s Vice President, said: “Sue AnderBois is the positive, outspoken, knowledgeable advocate we need in the State House to counter the propaganda of the oil industry and our energy utility. She has earned the unanimous support of CARI’s Statewide Elections Team, our Politics Team, our Leadership Team, and our Board.”
We urge all Rhode Islanders who want a livable future to donate to and volunteer for Sue at SueAnderBois.com, and of course, to cast their vote for her on September 8.
Read the full endorsement statement on CARI’s website here.
"...was the real opportunity in the lieutenant governor’s office. There, someone can lead without authority, because there aren’t very many statutory requirements for that job." • Good to hear. That's what you want to hear in a statewide candidate: innovation in leadership that makes perfect sense.
Sue is terrific, and I'll vote for her, but I'm not convinced by her decision to run for LG. For one, she is invaluable on the Providence City Council, there are so many important issues there. If she doesn't win, we've lost her unusually effective role as an elected official. That's what happened to Aaron Regunberg who was a progressive leader in the House that he gave up to run for LG. The LG, despite the task forces and bully pulpit, has very little actual power and it is no sure stepping stone to Governor. I'm one who once voted for Bob Healy to abolish it!
And there are decent candidates also running in the primary for LG.
By the way, I'm glad Sue highlighted RIPTA, - one small thing I asked Lt Gov Matos was help on getting a bus shelter in the State House area, but little response - I've been advocating that for a decade or more to no avail so far, though a Rosa Parks themed shelter may finally be in the works.
Great interview. I'm happy to keep up with who and what's going on locally.
From a March 23, 2026, press release:
Climate Action Rhode Island Endorses Sue AnderBois for Lieutenant Governor, Citing "Strategic Necessity" in Face of Executive Inaction
Climate Action Rhode Island is thrilled to announce our enthusiastic endorsement of Sue AnderBois for Lieutenant Governor. A proven climate champion whom we previously endorsed in her victorious run for the Providence City Council, Sue has been working for a cleaner future alongside CARI and other grassroots environmental groups since our founding in 2017.
The endorsement comes at a critical juncture for Rhode Island. As international climate leader Bill McKibben stated, "Sue AnderBois has shown her energy and climate chops on the Providence City Council. In the current moment, with the Trump administration trying to wreck the energy future for New England, we need to give her kind of vision a chance at a higher level. The lieutenant governor can do the crucial work of working behind the scenes to plan for the future, and she’s the right person for that job."
AnderBois brings unmatched expertise to the role, including having started the Solarize program for Rhode Island’s OER in 2014 and directing The Nature Conservancy’s climate work across the Northeast for years. In the Providence city government, she successfully spearheaded the passage of the “Building Energy Reporting Ordinance,” a law that helps building owners reduce their energy use, as well as an ordinance requiring all municipal buildings to be carbon-neutral by 2040.
"I am honored to have the backing of Climate Action Rhode Island," AnderBois said. "The climate crisis isn’t some distant threat; we are already seeing it in rising sea levels, more intense storms, and polluted air. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll not only fight to transition Rhode Island to a clean energy economy that supports good local jobs, but also ensure our communities and coastlines are resilient."
Justin Boyan, CARI’s Vice President, said: “Sue AnderBois is the positive, outspoken, knowledgeable advocate we need in the State House to counter the propaganda of the oil industry and our energy utility. She has earned the unanimous support of CARI’s Statewide Elections Team, our Politics Team, our Leadership Team, and our Board.”
We urge all Rhode Islanders who want a livable future to donate to and volunteer for Sue at SueAnderBois.com, and of course, to cast their vote for her on September 8.
Read the full endorsement statement on CARI’s website here.
"...was the real opportunity in the lieutenant governor’s office. There, someone can lead without authority, because there aren’t very many statutory requirements for that job." • Good to hear. That's what you want to hear in a statewide candidate: innovation in leadership that makes perfect sense.
I will be voting for her
Sue is terrific, and I'll vote for her, but I'm not convinced by her decision to run for LG. For one, she is invaluable on the Providence City Council, there are so many important issues there. If she doesn't win, we've lost her unusually effective role as an elected official. That's what happened to Aaron Regunberg who was a progressive leader in the House that he gave up to run for LG. The LG, despite the task forces and bully pulpit, has very little actual power and it is no sure stepping stone to Governor. I'm one who once voted for Bob Healy to abolish it!
And there are decent candidates also running in the primary for LG.
By the way, I'm glad Sue highlighted RIPTA, - one small thing I asked Lt Gov Matos was help on getting a bus shelter in the State House area, but little response - I've been advocating that for a decade or more to no avail so far, though a Rosa Parks themed shelter may finally be in the works.