EDF Action Hires New Staffers to Build Political Power

Ashley Lough, Director of Board & External Relations & Anabel Maldonado, Director of Political Programs in the Southwest

Washington, D.C. – EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, announced two new staff members: Ashley Lough, Director of Board and External Relations, and Anabel Maldonado, Director of Political Programs in the Southwest.

Lough led fundraising in the Midwest for EMILY’s List over three election cycles, helping to elect pro-choice women. She also worked for EMILY’s List during the 2014 election cycle, organizing development and press events and coordinating independent expenditure efforts for federal and gubernatorial candidates. Previously, Lough worked on the legislative staff of former U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, an Indiana Democrat. Her work covered energy and foreign affairs, which included clean water. Lough also served as Ellsworth’s finance director for his first re-election campaign.

Maldonado is a community organizer with more than 10 years of political experience. She has expertise in long-term base building for campaigns and organizations. Most notably her work helped set the stage for the statewide passage of a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave for Arizonans in 2016. She also was part of Senator Raquel Teran’s first bid for the state House in 2018, helped the ACLU of Arizona develop an issue organizing program, worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and was the state director for Invest in Ed (Prop 208) campaign in 2020. Most recently, she was at the Arizona state table coordinating the progressive community’s ballot measure work.

“I’m thrilled that Ashley and Anabel have joined our team at EDF Action. The experience they bring will be instrumental in helping to grow our political power. From the dollars we raise to the program we implement in the Southwest, I know this talented team is going to help accomplish our goals of advocating for bold climate solutions and electing climate champions up and down the ballot ,” EDF Action President David Kieve said.

“I’m excited to join EDF Action and help protect the environment. The health of our planet and our communities depends on electing leaders who take the climate crisis seriously and follow the science by passing transformative legislation,” EDF Action Director of Board and External Relations Ashley Lough said.

“EDF Action is making a deep commitment to building political power in Arizona and throughout the Southwest, and I’m looking forward to leading this program. The truth is we can’t make climate progress without focusing on building a strong environmental bench here, and that’s what I intend to do,” EDF Action Director of Political Programs in the Southwest Anabel Maldonado said.