Five women move from ‘On The List’ to Recommended

Today EMILY's List announced that it is moving five women currently "On the List" to a full recommendation. These five women are the first 2012 House challengers to move from "On the List" to a full endorsement.

“Tammy Duckworth, Lois Frankel, Annie Kuster, Ann Kirkpatrick and Christie Vilsack represent five key districts to winning back the House next November,” said EMILY’s List president Stephanie Schriock. “These five strong Democratic women are running fantastic campaigns, getting voters energized and are eager to bring their voices to Washington. EMILY's List couldn’t be more thrilled to throw our full support behind them help make 2012 another 'Year of the Woman'.”

2011 has proven to be a big year for EMILY’s List women. There was Kathy Hochul’s amazing upset in New York and Janice Hahn’s fight against Tea Party extremists in California. And of course, we are all still in awe of the strength and courage displayed by the five women candidates who fought against the war on women during the Wisconsin recalls. Let’s ride this wave of momentum and ensure that strong, Democratic, pro-choice women continue to be elected during the 2012 election cycle.

Meet the Candidates!

Tammy Duckworth
Race: IL-08
Opponent: Joe Walsh

A Major in the Illinois Army National Guard, Duckworth served in Iraq as an Assistant Operations Officer and a Black Hawk helicopter pilot.

During a mission north of Baghdad, her aircraft was ambushed. The crew successfully landed the aircraft, but Duckworth lost both of her legs and partial use of one arm as a result of the 2004 attack. She received decorations for her actions, including the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

In 2009, she was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by Congress as assistant secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department.

Tammy’s opponent, Cong. Joe Walsh, a Tea Party Republican, is one of the loudest champions of far-right policies. Walsh is the congressman who said President Obama was lying, and that a government shut down “would be a good thing,” right before being sued for over 100,000 dollars in child support.

Learn more about Tammy and all of her amazing achievements

Lois Frankel
Race: FL-22
Opponent: