Press Release: Former Governor Deval Patrick Endorses “YES on 6” Ballot Campaign to Protect Water and Nature

For Immediate Release

October 13, 2026

Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@acfstrategies.com

Former Governor Deval Patrick Endorses “YES on 6” Ballot Campaign to Protect Water and Nature

More than 125 Conservation Groups, Land Trusts, & Community Organizations Support Ballot Question 6 to Create Dedicated Nature for All Fund for Water and Land Conservation in Massachusetts — Without Raising Taxes

BOSTON — Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is endorsing the “YES on 6” ballot campaign, which aims to create a dedicated source of funding for land and water conservation in Massachusetts. Question 6, the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative on the November statewide ballot, would create a new Nature for All Fund and dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes.

“Massachusetts is blessed with incredible natural resources, and Question 6 gives us the opportunity to protect them for future generations,” said former Governor Deval Patrick. “I'll be voting YES on Question 6 on November 3 to safeguard clean drinking water and protect our forests, farms, and wildlife habitat.”

In supporting Question 6, Governor Patrick joins Governor Maura Healey and environmental leaders like former U.S. EPA Administrator and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and author, environmentalist, and activist Bill McKibben, as well as a broad coalition of more than 125 organizations led by the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups such as Mass Audubon, The Trustees, Appalachian Mountain Club, the Conservation Law Foundation, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land. 

Also supporting Question 6 are sporting and outdoor recreation groups such as Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Surfrider Foundation Massachusetts, and the New England Mountain Bike Association, and farming and gardening advocates including the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, American Farmland Trust, Grow Native Massachusetts, and Native Plant Trust. A full list of Question 6 endorsements can be found at natureforma.org/endorsements.

This month, the YES on 6 campaign began airing an ad titled “Naturally” on television and digital channels across the state. The ad features Mass Audubon wildlife biologist Lyra Brennan and The Trustees park ranger Matt Zieper addressing how Question 6 would protect clean drinking water; conserve forests, family farms, and natural wildlife habitat; and create more parks, trails, and greenspaces for all to enjoy — without raising taxes.

Background

Question 6, the ‘Protect Water and Nature’ initiative, would dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes. Question 6 would create a dedicated Nature for All Fund with as much as $100 million each year to support the conservation and restoration of water and natural areas in Massachusetts, protect the quality of our drinking water and natural wildlife habitats, and support the creation and improvement of parks, trails, greenspaces, and other outdoor recreation spaces.

The Nature for All Fund would be funded by the state’s existing sales tax on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and fishing equipment — not by creating a new tax. Question 6 allocates just 0.16% of the state’s $63.4 billion annual budget, but it would make a big difference for land and water. Question 6 would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund, with strict annual reporting requirements to track every dollar spent.

Question 6 is supported by a diverse coalition of more than 125 environmental, conservation, and community organizations and businesses throughout Massachusetts, including the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups such as Mass Audubon, The Trustees, Appalachian Mountain Club, the Conservation Law Foundation, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land, as well as dozens of local and regional groups from every corner of the state.

Over the last year, the coalition collected more than 122,000 signatures from Massachusetts voters to put nature on the ballot. Volunteers from dozens of organizations within the coalition contributed to this tremendous showing of support by collecting thousands of signatures from their neighbors at farmers’ markets, festivals, trailheads, and wildlife sanctuaries.

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The YES on 6 campaign is led by Nature for Massachusetts, a large and diverse coalition of environmental, conservation, and community organizations that seek to create a dedicated, annual revenue stream to conserve water, land, urban greenspace, outdoor recreation access, and wildlife in Massachusetts. For more information, visit natureforma.org.