US Senator (D-NY), 2020 Presidential Candidate
Vegan
Booker noted, “Legislatively, I want to continue to be a part of a movement of folk who are fighting against corporate interests that are undermining the public good and the public welfare. I believe that Americans do care about the cruelty to animals…so, I think there’s a lot of legislation we could be doing to stop sort of corporate power from reigning over the power of individuals to have freedom of choice, to see more compassion, to see a focus on public health.”
Source: Ineye Komonibo, “Cory Booker on Being Vegan and Animal Rights,” marieclaire.com, Oct. 2, 2019
42nd President of the US
Pesca-Vegan
Clinton stated, “[Going vegan] changed my life. I might not be around if I hadn’t become a vegan. It’s great… The vegan diet is what I like the best. I have more energy. I never clog. For me, the no dairy thing, because I had an allergy, has really helped a lot. And I feel good… [My doctor] asked me to eat organic salmon once a week. I do, but I’d just as soon be without it.”
Source: Mark Hensch, “Bill Clinton; Going Vegan Has Kept Me Alive,” thehill.com, Feb. 25, 2016
Founder of GitHub
Vegetarian
On Mar. 7, 2013, Friedman tweeted, “I’ve been a vegetarian for seven years and I no longer remember what a hamburger tastes like.”
Source: Nat Friedman, Twitter.com, Mar. 7, 2013
US Representative (D-HI), 2020 Presidential Candidate
Vegan
Gabbard noted, “Well, I have been a lifelong vegetarian… For me, deciding to be vegetarian is rooted in a very strong spiritual foundation as a practicing Hindu—and an awareness and a care and compassion for all living beings. So, more recently, in the last few years—just as I became more aware of the unethical treatment of animals in the dairy industry especially—it caused me to really think about some of the changes I could make to lessen that negative impact on animals as well as the environment. This is an issue I’ve really been working to bring to the forefront throughout my time in Congress and this campaign. I want to bring awareness around the environment and climate change; there’s a direct correlation to our diet and the choices that we make, what we eat, and what we put in our bodies every day. It’s been a glaring omission in most of the climate change debates, often focused on fossil fuels, which is important. But when you look at the impact that we could have in the world and on the planet by people moving to a plant-based diet, or even just starting to move in that direction, it’s really quite tremendous.”
Source: Jasmin Singer, “Tulsi Gabbard on Veganism, Climate Change, and What Gives Her Hope,” vegnews.com, Feb. 2020
Primatologist, Anthropologist
Vegetarian
Goodall stated, “There are three main reasons why we should eat less – or preferably no – meat. Firstly, so that we may eliminate factory farms. Secondly, to reduce the shocking damage the meat production industry inflicts on the environment and its contribution to climate change. And finally, to improve human health…For all of these reasons, and more, I chose to become a vegetarian all those years ago. I continue to ask people to consider what this choice really means on a moral and practical level for animals and the environment. It is the choice to change our individual lives, which will in turn have enormous benefits for all of humanity and all of the other living creatures we share our home with.”
Source: Jane Goodall, “Why I Became a Vegetarian (and Why We Should All Eat Less Meat),” news.janegoodall.org, Apr. 28, 2017
45th Vice President of the US
Vegan
In 2013, Gore stated, “Over a year ago I changed my diet to a vegan diet, really just to experiment to see what it was like… Now, for many people, that choice is connected to environmental ethics and health issues and all that stuff… In a visceral way, I felt better, so I’ve continued with it and I’m likely to continue it for the rest of my life.”
Source: Joe Loria, “Here’s Why Al Gore Went Vegan,” mercyforanimals.org, Aug. 30, 2017
Former US Representative (D-OH)
Vegan
Kucinich quipped, “Because I know how the sausage is made, and that’s why I’m a vegan.”
Source: Robert Scheer, “Dennis Kucinich: The Democratic Party Has No Soul,” truthdig.com, Jan. 31, 2020
Quite a few political leaders in New York are vegetarian or vegan, including:
Alessandra Biaggi, State Senator
Brian Kavanagh, State Senator
Luis Sepúlveda, State Senator
Harvey Epstein, Assemblyman
Richard Gottfried, Assemblyman
Linda Rosenthal, Assemblywoman
Alicka Ampry-Samuel, NYC Councilwoman
Justin Brannan, NYC Councilman
Brad Lander, NYC Councilman
Helen Rosenthal, NYC Councilwoman
Jumaane Williams, NYC Councilman
Eric L. Adams, Brooklyn Borough President
Vegetarian & Vegan
Brooklyn Bourough President Eric L. Adams stated, “I don’t want to become an annoying vegan. My hope is that by having people focus on adding healthy things to their plates, rather than unhealthy things, they’ll eventually only have room for the healthy ones.”
Sources:
Jane E. Brody, “An Inspiring Story of Weight Loss and Its Aftermath,” nytimes.com, Jan. 2, 2017
Jeff Coltin, “New York’s Vegetarian and Vegan Politicians,” cityandstateny.com, Feb. 12, 2019
US Representative (D-CA)
Vegan
On Jan. 4, 2017, Schiff tweeted “.@CoryBooker thanks for the treats, and showing me that being vegan doesn’t mean you always have to be healthy!” with a photo of vegan cupcakes and cookies.
Source: Adam Schiff, Twitter.com, Jan. 4, 2017
Climate Activist
Vegan
Thunberg explained how she got her parents to go vegan, stating, “I made them feel so guilty… I kept telling them that they were stealing our future and they cannot stand up for human rights while living that lifestyle, so then they decided to make those changes. My dad is vegan, my mom, she tries – she’s 90 percent vegan.”
Source: Maria Chiorando, “Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Says ‘Go Vegan,'” plantbasednews.org, Oct. 14, 2019
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