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Benjamin Todd Jealous (born January 18, 1973) is an American political activist. He served as the president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 2008 to 2013.[4]

Key Information

Jealous was the Democratic nominee in the 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election, losing to the incumbent Republican governor Larry Hogan.[5][6]

Jealous then served as president of People for the American Way from 2020 to 2022.[7] In November 2022, he was named executive director of the Sierra Club.[8][9] He led the Sierra Club from January 2023 until his termination in August 2025.[10]

Early life and education

[edit]

Jealous was born in 1973 in Pacific Grove, California, and grew up on the Monterey Peninsula. His mother, Ann Jealous (née Todd), is biracial. She worked as a psychotherapist and had grown up in Baltimore. She had participated there in the desegregation of Western High School. She is the author, with Caroline Haskell, of Combined Destinies: Whites Sharing Grief about Racism (2013). His father, Fred Jealous, who is white, is descended from settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, related to businessman Joseph B. Sargent, and directly in line to inherit the fortune from the Sargent and Co business. He founded the Breakthrough Men's Community and participated in Baltimore sit-ins to desegregate lunch counters.[11] Jealous's parents met in Baltimore in 1966. At the time, they did not openly date each other in public; when they went to the movies, they took separate paths to adjacent seats to hide their relationship.[12] As an interracial couple, they were prohibited by state law from marrying in Maryland before 1967. They married in Washington, D.C., and returned to live in Baltimore for a time before moving to California in the early-1970s.[13] As a child, Jealous was sent to Baltimore to spend his summers with his maternal grandparents, who lived in the Ashburton neighborhood. Jealous graduated from York School in Monterey, California in 1990.[14]

Jealous's father was best friends with comedian Dave Chappelle's father, William David Chappelle III; as a result, Jealous has been friends with Dave Chappelle since childhood, and the two are god-brothers.[15]

Jealous earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Columbia University. A Rhodes Scholar, he later earned a Master of Science in comparative social research from St Antony's College, Oxford.

Career

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Early activism

[edit]

At Columbia University, Jealous began working as an organizer with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. As a student, he protested the university's plan to turn the Audubon Ballroom (the site of Malcolm X's assassination) into a research facility and was suspended. During his suspension, Jealous traveled through the South. During this time Mississippi's three black colleges were slated to be closed because of financial difficulties. Jealous organized with the local NAACP chapter to keep them fully funded and maintain their operations.

While in Mississippi, Jealous began working as a reporter for Jackson Advocate, Mississippi's oldest historically black newspaper, under the tutelage of publisher Charles Tisdale. He eventually became its managing editor. His reporting was credited with exposing corruption among high-ranking officials at the state prison in Parchman. In addition, he helped acquit a small farmer who had been wrongfully accused of arson. Jealous returned to Columbia in 1997, where he applied for and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship.[16]

After completing his degree at Oxford and returning to the US, Jealous worked as executive director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a federation of more than 200 black community newspapers. During his term, he relocated the organization's editorial office to Howard University in Washington, D.C. He set up an online syndicated news service that shared content with all of the organization's member papers.[citation needed]

After the NNPA, he served as director of the US Human Rights Program at Amnesty International. He focused on issues such as promoting federal legislation against prison rape, racial profiling, and the sentencing of persons to life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) who are convicted for acts committed as children. (In 2012, the US Supreme Court ruled that such sentencing was unconstitutional, and ordered its ruling to be applied to people already in prison.) Jealous is the lead author of the 2004 report "Threat and Humiliation: Racial Profiling, Domestic Security, and Human Rights in the United States."[17]

Jealous was President of the Rosenberg Foundation, a private foundation located in San Francisco, California from 2005 to 2008.

NAACP

[edit]
Jealous in 2009

Jealous was elected in 2008 as president and CEO of the NAACP; at age 35, he was the youngest person to serve in that position. He served until late 2013. During his term, Jealous initiated national programs on criminal justice, health, environmental justice and voting rights, expanded existing programs and opened the NAACP Financial Freedom Center to provide financial education and banking resources.[18]

During his tenure, the NAACP helped register 374,553 voters and mobilize 1.2 million new voters to turn out at the polls for the 2012 presidential election. It supported abolition of the death penalty in Connecticut and Maryland, endorsed same-sex marriage, and fought laws it believed were intended for voter suppression in states across the country.

During Jealous's tenure, the number of NAACP's online activists increased from 175,000 to more than 675,000; its donors increased from 16,000 individuals to more than 132,000; and the number of total NAACP activists was 1.7 million.[19][20]

Jealous led the NAACP to work closely with other civil rights, labor and environmental groups. In 2010 the NAACP was one of the conveners of the One Nation Working Together Rally, which Jealous referred to as "an antidote" to the Tea Party.[21] In June 2012, the NAACP led several thousand protesters from different groups to march down New York City's Fifth Avenue in protest of the NYPD's policy of stop-and-frisk policing.[22] In 2012 Jealous formed the Democracy Initiative along with other progressive leaders, to build a national campaign around three goals: getting big money out of politics, supporting voting rights, and reforming broken Senate rules.[23] Finally, in 2013 Jealous gave the keynote address at the A10 Rally for Citizenship, a major rally for immigration reform at the US Capitol.[24]

Jealous behind President Barack Obama as he signs the Educational Excellence for African Americans executive order, 2012

Jealous broadened the NAACP's alliances in 2011 at the National Press Club when a conservative coalition of criminal justice reform advocates endorsed an NAACP report authored by Jealous. In the report, Jealous highlights the adverse effects of over-incarceration of youth on society and the case for increasing public funding for education.[25] In Texas later that year, the NAACP worked with leaders of the Tea Party to pass a dozen criminal justice reform measures, leading to the first scheduled prison closure in state history.[26] Similarly, in 2013, the NAACP worked closely with Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell to pass bipartisan voting rights reform that gave former offenders the chance to vote after they served the terms of their sentence.[27]

Upon announcing his resignation in 2013, Jealous was praised by activists for his coalition-building efforts.[28][29]

Jealous was noted for reviving and building the resources of the NAACP. According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, he was:

...credited with infusing the organization, once seen as graying and vulnerable, with energy, modernity... On his watch over the past five years, the group doubled its budget and national staff, thanks to sometimes explosive growth in fundraising. It shook off years of scandal and torpor, racked up victories in city halls and statehouses, and registered hundreds of thousands of voters. Now, as Mr. Jealous, 40, this week announces his resignation... he leaves a road map for reinvigorating nonprofit advocacy.[30]

2018 Maryland gubernatorial election campaign

[edit]
See also: 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election
Jealous campaigning in September 2018

On May 31, 2017, Jealous announced his candidacy for governor of Maryland in the 2018 election, then held by Larry Hogan (R).[31] His running mate was Susan Turnbull.

Many labor and progressive groups issued early endorsements of Jealous, including the American Postal Workers Union (APWU-Maryland), Communications Workers of America (CWA), National Nurses United, the Maryland State Education Association, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), UNITE-HERE, Democracy for America, Friends of the Earth Action, the Maryland Working Families Party, Our Revolution and Progressive Maryland.

Jealous received endorsements from Senators Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, and Kamala Harris, as well as longtime friend, comedian Dave Chappelle.[32]

The Democratic primary was held on June 26, 2018. Despite trailing in polling in the months prior to the primary, Jealous and Turnbull won the primary with 40% of the vote in a nine-candidate field, 10% ahead of the second place duo.[33]

Jealous ran on a platform that included free college tuition, legalized marijuana, universal healthcare, and a $15 minimum wage for Marylanders.[34][35] His views were described by an analyst for Circa News as democratic socialist.[36] However, Jealous disputed this characterization. On August 8, 2018, when questioned by a reporter about whether he considered himself a socialist, Jealous referred to himself as a "venture capitalist."[37] When the reporter asked a second time whether he was a socialist, he responded, "Are you fucking kidding me?"[38]

In October 2018, Jealous confirmed to Washington Jewish Week that he would "vow to defend" the Executive Order by Hogan related to banning companies from working with the state who boycott the Israeli Occupation and/or settlements.[39] This order is very similar to one the ACLU successfully challenged into suspension in Arizona as unconstitutional.[40] Jealous's campaign added that if the ACLU was successful in suspending the Maryland order, he would "bring leaders in the Jewish community and the Maryland-Israel Development Center together ...to figure out if there's a constitutional way to discourage the BDS movement in Maryland."[39]

The general election was held on November 6, 2018, and Jealous lost the election to the incumbent governor, Hogan by a wide margin of 11.9%.[6]

Memberships

[edit]

In 2014, Jealous became a senior partner at Kapor Capital. He also joined the Center for American Progress as a senior fellow.[41][42]

As of 2025, Jealous is a contributing editor for The Daytona Times.[43]

Political endorsements

[edit]

Jealous is a progressive Democrat. He endorsed Bernie Sanders in his 2016 campaign for U.S. president,[44][45] then supported Hillary Clinton after she became the Democratic nominee.[46]

Sierra Club

[edit]

Ben Jealous was appointed executive director of the Sierra Club in 2022, following the departure of Michael Brune, during a period when the environmental organization had no permanent leadership.[47] Jealous’s tenure has been marked by significant internal strife, including repeated restructures[48] and layoffs that sparked tension with staff, unions, and stakeholders.[49] Allegations of unfair labor practices and union-busting were filed against both Jealous and the Sierra Club, contributing to growing discontent within the organization.[50] In the spring of 2024, Progressive Workers Union, which represents over 50% of Sierra Club staff, conducted a vote of no confidence in Jealous’s leadership.[51]

In April 2025, Robert D. Bullard publicly requested that the Sierra Club remove his name from its Robert Bullard Environmental Justice Award, citing unmet promises and a failure to protect the predominantly Black Shiloh community.[52] His statement intensified criticism of Jealous's leadership, after Jealous was reported to have referred to Bullard and community members as "snakes" in response to public criticism.[53] Bullard subsequently called for a vote of no confidence in Jealous. Multiple no-confidence votes from staff, volunteers, and chapters further underscored organizational unrest.[54] In July 2025, Jealous took a leave of absence from his role at the Sierra Club.[55]

In August 2025, Jealous was removed from his position as executive director following a unanimous vote by the organization's board of directors.[56] The decision was a culmination of internal disputes and allegations regarding Jealous's leadership and conduct.[57]

The primary allegation against Jealous centered around his behavior towards staff and his perceived lack of transparency in handling organizational matters. Reports surfaced that Jealous exhibited a pattern of jealousy and undermining of colleagues, particularly in relation to the Sierra Club's senior leadership and key partners. These actions were described as fostering a toxic work environment that diminished the organization's ability to work effectively.[58]

An independent investigation was launched following multiple complaints, which concluded that Jealous's leadership style had led to growing tensions within the organization. The investigation also uncovered claims that Jealous had publicly disparaged colleagues and worked to consolidate power in a way that alienated other stakeholders. In August 2025, Bloomberg revealed that Jealous faced a sexual harassment and bullying complaint.[59]

Personal life

[edit]

Jealous has been a vegetarian since 1978.[60] Jealous was married to Lia Epperson, an NAACP lawyer and law professor at American University Washington College of Law in July 2002.[1] Epperson is the sister of CNBC correspondent Sharon Epperson.[61] Jealous and Epperson have two children.[62] The couple divorced in 2015.[2] He is a resident of Alameda, California.[63]

Awards and honors

[edit]

Jealous has earned the following awards and honors for his activism:

  • In March 2009, Jealous received the John Jay Award for distinguished professional achievement from Columbia College and in 2010 spoke as the Class Day speaker at Columbia University.[64]
  • In 2010, Jealous was named to Time magazine's "40 Under 40" rising stars of American politics.[65]
  • In 2010 and 2011, Jealous was named to the Nonprofit Times "Power & Influence Top 50" list.[66]
  • In 2012 Jealous was named to Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40" list.[67]
  • Jealous was ranked No. 3 on the 2012 Root Top 100 list.[68]
  • In December 2012, Jealous was awarded the 2012 Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship, which is given annually to an individual who has challenged the status quo through distinctive, courageous, imaginative, and socially responsible work of significance.[69]
  • In March 2013, Jealous was named a Young Global Leader by the Davos World Economic Forum.[70]
  • Jealous was ranked No. 1 on The 2013 Root Top 100 list.[71]
  • In December 2013 Jealous was named Marylander of The Year by the Baltimore Sun.[72]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ben Jealous

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from Grokipedia
Benjamin Todd Jealous is an American civil rights activist, political executive, and academic who served as the 17th president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 2008 to 2013. In that role, he emphasized priorities including voting rights, opposition to capital punishment, and support for marriage equality. Jealous won the Democratic primary for governor of Maryland in 2018 but lost the general election to incumbent Republican Larry Hogan, receiving 43 percent of the vote to Hogan's 56 percent. He later became executive director of the Sierra Club, the first person of color to hold the position, but was terminated "for cause" in August 2025 following disputes over layoffs, budget decisions, and allegations of unfair labor practices. Currently, Jealous holds a professorship of practice at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is associated with both the School of Social Policy & Practice and Carey Law School. His career has intersected activism, journalism, and venture capital, marked by efforts to build coalitions across ideological lines on issues like environmental justice and criminal justice reform, though his leadership at the Sierra Club drew criticism from staff and volunteers for prioritizing financial restructuring over programmatic equity initiatives.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Childhood

Benjamin Todd Jealous was born on January 18, 1973, in , to Ann Todd Jealous, a Black psychotherapist raised in , , and Fred Jealous, a white community activist from a prominent family in . His parents met in Baltimore in 1966 and maintained a clandestine relationship due to Maryland's , which prohibited interracial marriage until the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 1967; unable to wed legally in Maryland, they relocated to , where Jealous spent his early childhood, initially in Carmel for his first four years before moving to on the . Jealous's upbringing reflected his biracial heritage and his parents' commitment to social justice, with family ties to the spanning five generations; his mother's Todd family in included civil rights activists, while his father's background involved in and efforts to integrate libraries in . He spent summers visiting maternal grandparents in West , immersing him in environments shaped by elder civil rights figures, contrasting with his primarily white community. By age five, Jealous assisted in local political campaigns by distributing door knockers for a neighbor running for county council, and at fourteen, he participated in drives on the , emulating his parents' activism. His family history traces maternal roots to figures like great-great-grandfather Edward David Bland, born enslaved in who later served as a state delegate post-emancipation, underscoring intergenerational resilience amid racial barriers that also marked his parents' union. This background fostered Jealous's early awareness of racial divides, as he navigated a childhood bridging predominantly white suburban life in Pacific Grove with Baltimore's cultural heritage.

Academic Pursuits and Influences

Jealous graduated from the in , where headmaster and economics teacher Henry Littlefield fostered his interest in American history and civic justice, significantly influencing his choice to attend . Another early mentor, Judge Bob Watts, reinforced this path by highlighting opportunities at Columbia, such as studying under civil rights lawyer Jack Greenberg. At , Jealous pursued a in , completing the degree in 1997. Beginning in 1991, while working through his undergraduate years, he organized communities in for the Legal Defense Fund, an experience that redirected his initial ambition to become a toward broader and . His academic performance improved markedly in later years—from a 3.2 GPA to over 4.0—spurred by Carlton Long, his first Black male professor at Columbia, who challenged him to elevate his standards and pursue prestigious opportunities like the . Selected as a Rhodes Scholar in 1996, Jealous attended the from 1997 to 1998, earning a in comparative (now comparative ) from the Department of and Intervention. His graduate studies emphasized empirical analysis of social issues, informed by earlier influences like political scientist Charles Hamilton at Columbia, whose teachings on leadership and systemic inequities shaped Jealous's approach to and organizing. Ronald W. Walters from further reinforced these perspectives during his formative academic period.

Early Career and Activism

Journalism and Investigative Work

Jealous began his journalism career in the mid-1990s as an investigative reporter for the Jackson Advocate, Mississippi's oldest historically Black newspaper, known for its advocacy-oriented reporting under publisher Charles Tisdale. The publication, which had faced firebombings in the due to its exposés on racial injustices, operated in a hostile environment that underscored the risks of such work. He advanced to , focusing on issues affecting Black communities, including systemic corruption and environmental hazards. His reporting included investigations into corruption at Parchman State Prison, where he exposed abuses by high-ranking officials, contributing to broader scrutiny of the facility's operations. Jealous also documented environmental injustices, such as cancer clusters in communities linked to chemical spills from pulp mills and factory emissions, highlighting disproportionate impacts on low-income and minority populations. These efforts aligned with the newspaper's tradition of rigorous, community-driven aimed at prompting . Notable among his exposés was work proving the innocence of a Black farmer falsely accused of , demonstrating the paper's role in challenging miscarriages of . Overall, Jealous's investigations at the Jackson Advocate have been credited with spurring official probes into corruption and raising of public health crises tied to industrial . This period honed his skills in blending investigative rigor with advocacy, influencing his subsequent civil rights organizing. He left the role around 1997 upon returning to .

Civil Rights Organizing Roles

Jealous initiated his involvement in civil rights organizing at age 14 in 1987 by leading a voter registration drive in his community. In 1991, while attending Columbia University, he joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund as a community organizer in Harlem, focusing on grassroots efforts amid his studies. This role included protesting Columbia's proposal to repurpose a historic community center into a gymnasium, which led to his temporary suspension from the university in 1993 for occupying the building to demand community input. Following the suspension, Jealous moved to in 1993, where he worked as a field organizer documenting abuses, including environmental injustices affecting Black communities. He collaborated with the local chapter to advocate for its funding and operational continuity, helping to prevent its closure amid financial challenges. These efforts involved coordinating with other activists, such as , on issues like voter engagement and community empowerment in the Delta region. From July 2002 to June 2005, Jealous served as director of USA's U.S. Program, where he organized campaigns to advance federal legislation combating , , police brutality, and overuse of the death penalty. In this capacity, he mobilized coalitions to influence policy, emphasizing domestic application of international standards to address systemic disparities in the system.

NAACP Presidency (2008–2013)

Appointment and Organizational Reforms

Benjamin Todd Jealous was selected as president and CEO of the on May 17, 2008, becoming the youngest person to hold the position at age 35 in the organization's 99-year history. The board approved his contract by a vote of 35-2, choosing him over other candidates including Dennis Hayes, a former . Jealous, previously of the Rosenberg Foundation and a former journalist and researcher, assumed leadership amid internal challenges including declining membership and financial instability following the tenure of predecessor Bruce Gordon. Upon taking office, Jealous prioritized financial stabilization, inheriting an organization with chronic deficits and revenue shortfalls. He implemented cost-cutting measures, including staff reductions and operational efficiencies, which contributed to balancing the budget and achieving five consecutive years of surpluses. revenue increased from $24.7 million in fiscal year 2008 to $43.2 million in 2012, reflecting double-digit annual growth driven by enhanced fundraising and corporate partnerships. Organizationally, Jealous emphasized modernization and youth engagement to reverse membership stagnation, targeting and expanding the NAACP's Youth & College Division, which grew to include over 300 active campus chapters. This shift aimed to infuse the historically elder-led structure with younger leadership and digital tools, fostering a generational transition while maintaining focus on core civil rights issues like voting rights and economic justice. He also redirected resources toward state-level legislative over federal litigation, adapting to post-2008 political dynamics. These reforms stabilized the NAACP's operations and positioned it for renewed relevance, though they drew internal criticism for centralizing at national headquarters.

Key Achievements and Policy Focus

During his presidency of the NAACP from 2008 to 2013, Ben Jealous prioritized policy areas including voting rights protection, , funding, health disparities, and . He initiated national programs in these domains, expanding the organization's advocacy against voter suppression measures such as restrictive identification laws and reduced periods, which the NAACP framed as barriers disproportionately affecting minority voters. In criminal justice, Jealous launched the Smart and Safe Campaign, which critiqued the prioritization of incarceration over and called for reallocating state funds from prisons to schools, highlighting data showing states spending more per inmate than per student in some cases. Key achievements included organizational revitalization through financial expansion: annual donations grew from $23 million in 2007 to $46 million in 2012, while the donor base expanded from 16,000 to over 132,000 individuals, enabling doubled budgets and national staff. Online activists increased from 175,000 to more than 675,000, and membership rose for three consecutive years, the first such streak in decades. These gains supported high-profile voter mobilization efforts, notably in 2012, when the NAACP registered 374,553 new voters and mobilized 1.2 million additional or unlikely participants, contributing to record turnout among African American voters. Jealous also advanced criminal justice initiatives, including advocacy for restoring voting rights to ex-felons in states like and , where millions were disenfranchised, and a resolution calling for an end to the due to its role in mass incarceration. The organization under his leadership produced reports linking over-incarceration to underfunded education, urging policy shifts toward rehabilitation and community investment over punitive measures. These efforts aligned with broader pushes for economic empowerment and , though outcomes varied by state legislative responses.

Criticisms of Leadership and Effectiveness

Jealous's handling of the controversy in July 2010 drew significant criticism for hasty judgment. After a deceptively edited video surfaced appearing to show Sherrod, an state director, admitting to against a white farmer, Jealous publicly condemned her remarks as "appalled" and indicative of , prompting her from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The later retracted the statement upon viewing the full video, which revealed Sherrod describing her personal growth beyond initial bias, with Jealous admitting the organization had been "snookered" by conservative activist . Critics, including some within civil rights circles, faulted Jealous for rushing to denounce an African American official without verification, exacerbating her unjust firing and temporarily undermining the 's credibility on racial justice issues. The NAACP's July 2010 resolution under Jealous's leadership, condemning "racist elements" within the Tea Party movement and demanding repudiation of bigots in its ranks, also faced backlash for perceived overreach. Passed at the organization's , the measure highlighted purported links between Tea Party factions and hate groups, prompting accusations from conservatives that it smeared a broad movement as inherently . Jealous defended the action as targeted at extremists rather than the entire Tea Party, but detractors argued it inflamed partisan divisions without sufficient evidence tying mainstream Tea Party leaders to racism, potentially alienating potential allies on issues like . This episode, occurring amid the Sherrod fallout, led some observers to question Jealous's strategic acumen in navigating high-profile racial controversies. Internally, Jealous encountered resistance from local NAACP branches, which some leaders described as feeling disconnected from national priorities. Critics within the organization, such as branch officials, contended that Jealous's emphasis on centralized reforms and national campaigns neglected , with one analyst noting that local units perceived a lack of consultation on key decisions. His youth—at 35 the youngest president in NAACP history—and business-oriented approach to , including staff cuts and debt reduction, reportedly clashed with veteran members accustomed to traditional models, fostering perceptions of top-down imposition over collaborative . While Jealous tripled revenue and achieved financial solvency by , detractors highlighted volatile expenditure increases as risking long-term stability, arguing that aggressive fundraising masked underlying operational inefficiencies. Effectiveness critiques also centered on uneven outcomes in core missions, such as the failure to halt the 2011 execution of despite high-profile mobilization, which underscored limits in influencing judicial outcomes despite galvanizing public attention. Some board insiders viewed Jealous's five-year tenure as prematurely curtailed, interpreting his family-cited as an evasion of mounting internal pressures rather than a triumph, though he left the organization with expanded membership and voter engagement. These points reflect attributed concerns from contemporaries, balanced against broader acknowledgments of revitalization, but highlight tensions in adapting a century-old to contemporary challenges.

2018 Maryland Gubernatorial Campaign

Democratic Primary Success

Ben Jealous won the Democratic primary for on June 26, 2018, securing the nomination in a field of nine candidates. He received 220,045 votes, or 39.8 percent of the total, marking a plurality victory rather than a . Jealous's primary opponents included Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. III, who garnered 161,963 votes or 29.3 percent as the establishment favorite; former refugee advocate Krish Vignarajah with approximately 8.3 percent; and others such as Jim Shea, Alec Ross, and Jealous's Susan Turnbull's prior competitors. , who self-funded over $6 million, represented the party machine backed by local elected officials, while Jealous positioned himself as an outsider leveraging his NAACP presidency for credibility on racial justice and economic issues. Jealous's campaign emphasized progressive policies like and tuition-free college, drawing endorsements from and mobilizing younger and African American voters in a "Blue Wave" context amid national Democratic enthusiasm post-2016. His "" strategy focused on organizing over big-money support, enabling him to outperform polls that had shown a tighter race with Baker. Turnout in Democratic strongholds like Baltimore City and Prince George's County favored Jealous's messaging, though his win highlighted divisions within Maryland's overwhelmingly Democratic electorate between insurgents and incumbents.

Campaign Platform and Strategies

Ben Jealous's 2018 gubernatorial platform emphasized progressive reforms aimed at economic inclusion and social equity. Central to his economic agenda was the "Make It In " initiative, which sought to rebuild an economy that did not leave workers behind through investments in jobs, infrastructure, and clean energy. He proposed raising the to $15 per hour and transitioning to 100% clean, sources to generate jobs while addressing environmental concerns. In healthcare, Jealous advocated for Medicare for All at the state level to lower premiums and drug prices, aligning with broader national Democratic proposals. policies included a 29% pay raise for teachers, full-day universal pre-K funded by taxes on legalized marijuana, redirection of casino and revenues to schools, and tuition-free supported by a 1% increase on the top 1% of earners. On criminal justice, he supported "smart-on-crime" measures to create a more efficient and just system, drawing from his civil rights background to promote inclusive policies on and civil rights. Campaign strategies focused on base mobilization in a state where Democrats held a 2-to-1 registration advantage over Republicans. Jealous aimed to turn out approximately 120,000 Democrats who had not voted in the 2014 election, alongside first-time voters and new registrants, through a robust ground operation that expanded to 62 field organizers by September—up from 15 in 2014. Messaging contrasted his proposals for affordable healthcare and with incumbent Larry Hogan's spending cuts, while tying Hogan to President Trump's unpopularity, as 66% of voters viewed standing up to Trump as important. Fundraising challenges hampered visibility, with Jealous's campaign spending only $385,000 on ads in August compared to Hogan's $9.4 million, delaying TV ads until mid-September. The effort relied on digital tools like Live and endorsements from progressive figures such as , but limited early advertising contributed to one-third of voters remaining unfamiliar with Jealous by July. Despite these policies polling favorably—such as 54% support for Medicare for All and 71% for a $15 —the campaign struggled to overcome Hogan's moderate appeal and financial edge.

Election Loss and Contributing Factors

In the general election held on November 6, 2018, incumbent Republican Governor defeated Democratic nominee Ben Jealous by a margin of 1,155,539 votes (54.7%) to 988,256 (46.8%), with minor candidates receiving the remainder. This result marked the first re-election of a Republican governor in since in 1954, underscoring Hogan's strong personal appeal in a state where registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than 2-to-1. Hogan's incumbency and sustained high approval ratings, often exceeding 60%, were primary factors in the outcome, as he positioned himself as a moderate focused on , improvements, and bipartisan responses to crises like the 2015 Baltimore unrest. Polls throughout the campaign showed Hogan leading by double digits, with crossover support from independents and even some Democrats alienated by national partisan trends. Jealous struggled to erode this support, as Hogan's administration highlighted tangible achievements such as job growth and toll relief, contrasting with Jealous's emphasis on expansive progressive policies including universal healthcare and a $72 billion plan funded partly by new corporate taxes. A stark fundraising disparity further hampered Jealous's campaign; by late August 2018, held approximately 24 times more cash on hand than Jealous, enabling the incumbent to outspend him significantly on advertising that emphasized 's moderation and critiqued Jealous's ties to national progressive figures and proposals perceived as fiscally aggressive. Jealous raised over $15 million but trailed 's totals exceeding $40 million, limiting mobilization and media buys in key suburban areas like Montgomery and counties, where expanded his margins from 2014. Voter turnout and demographic shifts also played roles, with Democrats failing to achieve the high seen in other states amid a national "blue wave," partly due to complacency against a popular incumbent and Jealous's platform not sufficiently differentiating from on issues like and reduction in urban areas. Exit polls indicated won a of independents and moderate Democrats, while Jealous underperformed in African American turnout relative to expectations in a state with a significant Democratic base. Analysts attributed additional challenges to Jealous's relative inexperience in elected office and perceptions of his campaign as overly reliant on out-of-state donations and endorsements, which 's team framed as disconnected from priorities.

Post-2018 Professional Roles

Advocacy at People for the American Way

Ben Jealous assumed the presidency of (PFAW) and its affiliated People For the American Way Foundation on June 15, 2020, succeeding Michael Keegan after an extensive search for a leader to advance the organizations' progressive advocacy against right-wing extremism and for democratic reforms. PFAW, founded in 1980 by television producer and others, focuses on protecting , promoting fair elections, and opposing judicial nominees perceived as threats to equality and . Under Jealous's leadership, the group emphasized multiracial coalitions to address systemic , , and voter engagement amid the 2020 U.S. and subsequent challenges to democratic institutions. A central initiative during Jealous's tenure was co-leading a series of advocacy and actions centered on federal voting rights legislation. In 2021, PFAW joined coalitions including of Women Voters and for American Democracy in multiple protests urging President Biden to reform the filibuster to pass bills like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. These efforts culminated in arrests of participants, including Jealous, during direct actions such as the November 3, 2021, rally, where over a dozen activists were detained for refusing to disperse after demanding action against state-level voter restrictions. Jealous framed these protests as a refusal to allow "democracy to die in silence," highlighting the post-Shelby County v. Holder erosion of protections under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The campaigns involved civil rights groups, women's advocates, and faith leaders, building on PFAW's member-driven efforts to expand voter mobilization nationwide. Jealous's advocacy extended to critiquing barriers to voting access and supporting Biden administration priorities on , such as pausing federal executions, while PFAW monitored judicial confirmations and state-level . The organization grew its grassroots base during the 2020–2022 period, aligning with strategies through 2022. Jealous departed PFAW in December 2022 to become executive director of the , leaving the presidency to interim and subsequent leaders amid ongoing focuses on democracy defense.

Sierra Club Executive Directorship (2023–2025)

In November 2022, the 's unanimously selected Ben Jealous as its next , effective January 1, 2023, following a nine-month national search process. Jealous, a former president of the and civil rights organizer, became the organization's first Black , chosen for his experience in coalition-building, advocacy, and environmental engagement. The appointment came amid the 's efforts to address its historical ties to racial exclusion, including founder John Muir's documented white supremacist views, and to integrate equity into its environmental mission. Jealous prioritized revitalizing the Sierra Club's core objectives, including protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, while expanding coalitions across labor, civil rights, and community groups to advance both and human well-being. In his first month, he launched a six-week nationwide listening tour, visiting chapters and volunteers in locations such as , the , , and Pasadena to gather direct input on organizational challenges and opportunities. The tour emphasized volunteer-driven strategies, with Jealous highlighting takeaways like strengthening chapter support and fostering "uncomfortably large" alliances to counter interests and promote climate justice. Under Jealous's leadership, the undertook a management redesign to address recent budget shortfalls, including reallocating resources to bolster chapter operations and cutting non-essential expenditures. He also advanced internal equity efforts, such as creating a People Department to oversee human resources and diversity initiatives, drawing on his civil rights background to link racial justice with environmental advocacy. Jealous publicly defended these moves as necessary for financial stabilization, claiming they resulted in balanced budgets and a progressive union contract for staff. Jealous's tenure concluded in August 2025, when the unanimously voted to terminate his employment for cause following an extensive review, after he had been placed on in July. The organization then appointed an interim to manage the transition.

Business Investments and Other Activities

Following his tenure as president of the NAACP, Jealous joined Kapor Capital as a partner in 2013, managing its office and focusing on seed-stage investments in technology startups addressing social challenges such as education, , and , with an emphasis on firms led by women and people of color. The firm's portfolio at the time included 46% of investments in companies with diverse founders, and Jealous led deals that expanded operations for recipients like a tech firm from seven to 16 employees. He continued in this role until 2018, during which he claimed to have supported job creation in and beyond through these market-driven initiatives. In February 2019, after his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign, Jealous founded 20X Ventures, a Baltimore-based firm specializing in social and consulting to scale mission-aligned businesses. The venture provided advisory services, including support for clients like Labs on regulatory matters. Jealous has held advisory and board roles in related entities, such as advisor to startup EarnUp and chairman of BMe Community, a nonprofit focused on for Black men, though these extend beyond pure investment activities. No public records indicate active investment operations from 20X Ventures or new business launches following his 2025 departure from the as of October 2025.

Sierra Club Tenure Controversies

Internal Conflicts and Staff Relations

Jealous's leadership at the , beginning in late 2023, quickly encountered tensions with staff over organizational restructuring and budget management. By November 2023, reports emerged of internal strife, with Jealous publicly attributing discord to employees' resistance to change, stating that "people have a right to adapt to change at their own pace" while implementing cost-cutting measures. These efforts included multiple rounds of layoffs aimed at balancing the budget amid declining revenues, which drew criticism for eroding morale and operational capacity. The Progressive Workers Union (PWU), representing employees, accused Jealous of "unprecedented union busting" and disproportionate layoffs targeting frontline and BIPOC staff, including the elimination of key diversity-focused roles as recently as June 2025. Union representatives highlighted expanded executive team sizes and salaries under Jealous as exacerbating inequities, while staff broadly reported a "failed vision" and ongoing demoralization. In response, Jealous and supporters framed the cuts as essential for fiscal sustainability, rejecting claims of bias and pointing to vilification by the union despite efforts to reduce non-staff costs. Escalating disputes led to formal staff actions, including multiple no-confidence votes from employees, managers, and volunteers by mid-2025, culminating in Jealous's placement on on July 11, 2025. Conflicting narratives emerged regarding racial dynamics, with Jealous's allies alleging against him as the organization's first Black , while the PWU's BIPOC and other staff rejected such claims, emphasizing failures over identity-based retaliation. Staff reactions to his August 2025 termination reflected widespread relief, characterizing the prior two years as defined by infighting, open feuds, and disrupted internal cohesion.

Allegations of Misconduct and Responses

In August 2025, prior to his termination, the received a formal workplace misconduct complaint against Executive Director Ben Jealous from a staff member, alleging that included unwelcome graphic comments about his own sex life and the bodies of female colleagues. The complaint also accused Jealous of toward employees. The Sierra Club's board of directors unanimously voted on August 11, 2025, to terminate Jealous "for cause" following an internal investigation into these and related workplace conduct issues, after he had been placed on in July 2025 amid broader staff unrest. The organization cited "extensive evaluation of workplace conduct" but did not publicly release detailed findings from the probe. Jealous responded by attributing his ouster to , asserting that as the Sierra Club's first , he faced from predominantly and staff resistant to his reforms. Supporters, including civil rights figures like Rev. , echoed this claim, highlighting "serious racial implications" and a pattern of undermining leaders in environmental organizations. Jealous stated he was "fighting" the termination decision, though no formal legal action had been publicly filed as of September 2025. Staff representatives expressed relief at Jealous's removal, describing it as a resolution to ongoing tensions over his , but the provided no further comment on the harassment allegations or Jealous's racism counterclaims.

Termination and Aftermath (2025)

On August 11, 2025, the 's unanimously voted to terminate Ben Jealous's employment as "for cause," following an extensive evaluation of his conduct and after he had been placed on on July 14, 2025. The board cited reasons including his , which had led to prior no-confidence votes from unionized staff over a year earlier, amid complaints of mismanagement, contentious layoffs, and strained relations with local chapters. Jealous was informed in writing of the specific grounds for termination, with the decision effective after a 30-day notice period. Jealous publicly contested the firing as "disheartening," asserting that it unfairly attributed organizational challenges, such as budget balancing through staff reductions and contract negotiations, solely to his tenure. Supporters, including some civil rights advocates, alleged racial bias in the decision, given Jealous's status as the organization's first executive director, and called for greater transparency from the board, which provided limited public details beyond the conduct evaluation. In contrast, staff union leaders expressed relief at the ouster, describing it as a step toward resolving ongoing turmoil, including the elimination of the equity team and executive team expansions amid fiscal deficits. The termination followed reports of a complaint against Jealous prior to his leave, though the board did not publicly confirm its role in the final decision. By October 6, 2025, the appointed a new interim to refocus operations and address lingering internal divisions. Jealous has since indicated plans to challenge the termination legally or publicly, while the faced external pressure for in its leadership transitions.

Political Views and Affiliations

Ideological Positions and Critiques

Ben Jealous identifies as a progressive Democrat, emphasizing economic combined with racial and . During his 2018 Maryland gubernatorial campaign, he advocated for , estimating it would cover all residents but facing analyses projecting annual state costs of up to $24 billion. He also proposed tuition-free and public universities funded by taxing high earners and corporations, alongside a 29% raise for public school teachers financed through increased tobacco taxes and closing corporate tax loopholes. On , Jealous pledged to end mass incarceration via eight policy reforms, including expanded rehabilitation programs and reduced sentences for nonviolent offenses, drawing from his tenure where he prioritized voting rights restoration and . As executive director from 2023 to 2025, he focused on , prioritizing pollution impacts on minority communities and criticizing expansion, though internal critics argued his approach insufficiently confronted federal anti-environmental policies. Jealous rejects socialist labels, affirming his venture capital background and stating in 2018 interviews that he is a capitalist who supports regulated markets for public benefit, responding sharply to accusations with, "Are you f---ing kidding me?" when asked if he identified as a socialist. Despite this, conservative opponents and some Maryland Democrats critiqued his platform as far-left, arguing it overpromised fiscal feasibility—such as expansive social spending without adequate revenue details—and alienated moderates, contributing to his 2018 general election loss to Republican Larry Hogan by 12 points. Progressive allies praised his fusion of class-based economics with identity-focused reforms as a model, but detractors, including within the Democratic establishment, viewed it as ideologically rigid, prioritizing base mobilization over broad coalition-building in a state favoring pragmatic governance.

Endorsements Given and Received

During his 2018 campaign for , Ben Jealous received endorsements from several high-profile Democrats and advocacy groups. U.S. Senator endorsed him on March 23, 2018, praising his leadership on . Senator backed him on July 17, 2017, highlighting Jealous's progressive platform. Former President included Jealous among 260 Democratic candidates he endorsed nationwide on October 1, 2018. Labor and environmental organizations also supported Jealous. The Maryland State Education Association, representing 74,000 educators, endorsed him on April 15, 2018, citing his education policy proposals. The announced its endorsement on August 31, 2018, emphasizing his environmental commitments. The endorsed him in 2018, commending his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Additional backers included 350 Action on March 8, 2018, for his climate stance, and Maryland Working Families on August 11, 2017, aligning with his progressive economic agenda. Jealous has endorsed candidates aligned with his civil rights and progressive priorities. He supported Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries on February 5, 2016, drawing parallels to NAACP ideals of economic justice. In 2021, he endorsed Jennifer Carroll Foy in the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary on April 9, 2021, as a fellow civil rights advocate. He backed Wes Moore for Maryland governor in the 2022 Democratic primary on April 21, 2022, citing shared leadership experience.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Ben Jealous was born on January 18, 1973, in Pacific Grove, California, to Fred Jealous, a white insurance executive from Maine, and Ann Jealous, a Black teacher whose family originated in Washington, D.C. His parents met as civil rights activists while students in Maryland, where state law prohibited interracial marriage until invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court's Loving v. Virginia ruling in 1967; facing such barriers, they relocated to California, where Jealous was raised on the Monterey Peninsula. The Jealous family maintained deep ties to civil rights organizations, with five generations of membership in the , including Jealous's maternal grandmother, Mamie Todd, who endured in the Jim Crow South. In June 2017, his parents renewed their wedding vows in , to commemorate the 50th anniversary of , with Jealous in attendance. Jealous married Lia Beth Epperson, a civil rights attorney and professor at Washington College of Law, on July 27, 2002, in , ; she is the daughter of Dr. David E. Epperson, a dentist, and his wife. The couple has two children—a daughter born around 2006 and a son, Jack, born around 2014. No public records indicate subsequent marriages or significant romantic relationships for Jealous following his time with Epperson.

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  137. https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-07-17/bernie-sanders-endorsed-ben-jealous-for-maryland-governor-but-will-it-make-a-difference
  138. https://wtop.com/local-politics-elections-news/2018/10/obama-endorses-ben-jealous-for-governor-of-maryland/
  139. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-gubernatorial-candidate-ben-jealous-gets-endorsement-of-states-largest-teachers-union/2018/04/15/f84a7370-4040-11e8-8d53-eba0ed2371cc_story.html
  140. https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/blog/2018/08/sierra-club-endorses-ben-jealous-for-maryland-governor
  141. https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-endorses-ben-jealous-for-maryland-governor
  142. https://350action.org/350-actions-first-endorsements-of-2018-deb-haaland-and-ben-jealous/
  143. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-working-families-endorses-ben-jealous-for-maryland-governor/2017/08/11/2013ba3e-7ea3-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html
  144. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/bernie-sanders-ben-jealous-endorsement-218734
  145. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/civil-rights-leader-ben-jealous-endorses-jennifer-carroll/story?id=76953756
  146. https://wesmoore.com/release-ben-jealous-endorses-wes-moore-for-maryland-governor/
  147. https://afro.com/parents-ben-jealous-gubernatorial-candidate-renew-marriage-vows-honor-loving-v-virginia/
  148. https://www.montereyherald.com/20141015/pbs-ancestry-show-takes-jealous-family-on-emotional-journey/
  149. https://storycorps.org/stories/mamie-todd-with-her-grandson-ben-jealous-and-her-daughter-ann-todd-jealous/
  150. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/28/style/weddings-lia-epperson-benjamin-jealous.html
  151. https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/tampa-bay/blog/2025/05/sierra-club-leader-ben-jealous-gets-outdoors-tampa-bay-kids
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