NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Terry McAuliffe, campaign chairman for Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, looks on as Clinton speaks to supporters at the final primary night party June 3, 2008 at Baruch College in New York City. The senator from New York spoke to supporters following the final presidential primaries in Montana and South Dakota. Clinton did not officially end her campaign, even though opponent Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has earned enough delegates to clinch the nomination. National Journal

After Democratic Terry McAuliffe defeated Republican challenger Ken Cuccinelli at the polls Tuesday night to become the next governor in the state of Virginia, green groups loudly applauded the win.

The Sierra Club posted on Twitter: "In Virginia, a climate denier DENIED." Jeff Gohringer, a spokesman for the League of Conservation Voters tweeted: "Big win for the environmental community as one of the most vocal #climate change deniers loses."

During the campaign, environmental groups sought to make climate change one of the central issues of the race by consistently attacking Cuccinelli for his skepticism toward global warming.

In a press release Tuesday, Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune signaled that the push to make climate change a defining campaign issue won't end with the Virginia governor's race. 

"This victory in Virginia is round one," Brune commented. "Over the next 12 months and beyond, the Sierra Club's 2.1 million members and supporters will build on this momentum and fight to elect clean-energy champions and hold climate deniers accountable across the country."

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