Patagonia makes its first election endorsements with two Western Democrats

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia Inc. is endorsing two Democrats in key Senate races that could determine control of the upper chamber.

The company, which has upped its political activism since President Trump took office, is backing Rep. Jacky Rosen in her challenge of Nevada Sen. Dean Heller (R) and Sen. Jon Tester in his Montana reelection bid against Republican Matt Rosendale.

Rosen and Tester are the first election endorsements in Patagonia’s history.

{mosads}“The company is endorsing candidates for the first time this year because of the urgent and unprecedented threats to our public lands and waters. Nevada and Montana are two states where Patagonia has significant company history and a long record of conservation accomplishments, and where the stakes are too high to stay silent,” the company said in a statement.

Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario said the company is backing Rosen “because she will fight to protect Nevada’s public lands and the vibrant outdoor industry that depends on them.”

And Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder, said it is backing Tester “because he gives a damn about protecting public lands — and, like us, he’s committed to fight back against anyone who doesn’t.”

The company has been outspoken in its support for public lands protections and its opposition to policy proposals from Trump and congressional Republicans to undo them. It has specifically fought Trump’s December decision to shrink the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah, including filing a lawsuit over Bears Ears and declaring on its website that “The President Stole Your Land.”

Chouinard has previously said Trump is “like a kid who’s so frustrated he wants to break everything” and said his administration’s climate policies are “truly evil.”

Patagonia has also publicly clashed with House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who slammed the company for manufacturing some of its products in China.