EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program (POP) had plenty to celebrate this week, following big wins in the primary elections in Illinois. All three of our endorsed POP candidates -- two in state House contests and one for state treasurer -- won their primaries and are headed on to the general election this November.
POP, which supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates at the state and local levels, provides strategic guidance as candidates set up their campaigns and run competitive races. For our three candidates in Illinois, POP certainly made a difference.
I spoke with Regional POP Director Muthoni Wambu to get her take on Tuesday's races:
Robin Kelly, State Treasurer
Robin won this statewide primary race 58-42%. If she wins the general election against a well-funded Republican state senator who ran unopposed in the primary, Robin will be the first African American woman to hold this statewide position.
Muthoni's take: We worked closely with the Kelly campaign and the hardworking team she’s assembled. We'll be very active with Robin's campaign as we move forward to the general election. ... Just as POP helped Lisa Madigan become the state's first woman attorney general, we're firmly committed to helping Robin become the first African American woman to hold a statewide constitutional office in Illinois.
Ann Williams, House District 11
Former assistant attorney general Ann Williams won with 46% of the vote in a hard-fought three-way primary. This is an open-seat race in a strongly Democratic district.
Muthoni's take: This is a redrawn district, and Ann is the first woman to hold this seat since it was redrawn. Ann ran a strong race and has great potential. We'll still be working very closely with her moving forward.
Robyn Gabel, House District 18
Robyn Gabel, executive director of the nonprofit Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition, won a hotly contested 5-way race with 27.5% of the vote. Robyn earned the support of EMILY's List alum Cong. Jan Schakowsky, who held the seat previously.
Muthoni's take: We were happy to lend a hand in Robyn's race. For both Robyn and Ann, the campaigns really felt the EMILY's List endorsement carried a lot of weight and helped win over women voters. Robyn's district has a strong history of electing women, and I think our involvement made a difference for her in this race.
Our Political Opportunity Program had a huge victory in Houston this weekend, when EMILY's List POP candidate Annise Parker won her race for mayor.
We told you about Annise's runoff election earlier, and we're thrilled she came out on top!
Here's a quick note from EMILY's List President Ellen R. Malcolm's statement Sunday on Annise's victory:
"Last night Annise Parker made history and was elected Mayor of Houston, Texas – the fourth largest city in the nation. As a city councilor, city comptroller, and a successful businesswoman, Annise earned a reputation as a hard working and thoughtful leader. As Mayor, she'll continue that tradition and work to build Houston's economy creating jobs and opportunity for its people."
"Last night's victory is a demonstration that even when faced with ugly, negative campaigning, the best candidate can triumph. It is important to celebrate these milestones and marvel at how far we've come, but also to remember all the work we have ahead of us. EMILY's List is proud to have been part of this historic and successful campaign."
We told you earlier that Linda Chavez-Thompson won her primary for lieutenant governor in Texas, and we wanted to make sure you knew about our other big Political Opportunity Program victories from this week.
Loretta Haldenwang, who won the Democratic nomination for Texas state House district 105, soundly defeated her primary opponent and came out with a win. Next up for Loretta is a three-way race against the incumbent, GOP state Rep. Linda Harper Brown, and a Libertarian candidate, Cecil Ince. Loretta is fresh off a decisive primary win, but the general election is shaping up to be a competitive contest. We'll keep you updated as her race develops.
And in Virginia, Eileen Filler-Corn won a special election to fill the vacant seat in House district 41. Eileen came out on top in an extremely tight race, winning with just 37 votes over her Republican opponent, Kerry Bolognese. This is a tough swing district -- but Eileen put together a winning campaign and got her message out to voters.
Congratulations to all our POP candidates on their exciting wins!
Here at EMILY's List, we love to talk about the leadership "pipeline" that's so important to helping women candidates gain experience and get elected at all levels of government. And right now, there's no better example of the pipeline in action than Karen Bass, the current speaker of the California Assembly who has just announced her bid for Congress in California's 33rd congressional district.
Bass, who has been supported by EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program at the state level, has quickly risen through the ranks of California politics, and now she's in the race to fill the open seat of retiring EMILY's List alum Cong. Diane Watson. Watson gave her full backing to Bass at a news conference yesterday, saying, "I 100% -- maybe 300% -- endorse Karen Bass."
Bass helped us with a video we put together for our 20th anniversary five years ago, speaking about why it's so important that women run for office. It's great to hear from so many of our elected women talking about why they ran.
Take a look (and watch for another pipeline candidate, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who's currently running for Senate!):
Today, we announced our endorsement of our third gubernatorial candidate this cycle -- Vermont's current secretary of state, Deb Markowitz.
In 1998, Deb unseated a two-term incumbent to become the state's top election official -- making her the first woman elected secretary of state in Vermont. Our Political Opportunity Program supported Deb then, and we're excited to back her race for the governor's seat. Deb is an experienced leader with stellar campaign skills, and we're happy to be part of her team.
Here's what Ellen R. Malcolm had to say about today's endorsement:
"We are thrilled to endorse Deb Markowitz for Governor of Vermont. Deb has been an all-star Secretary of State working to make government more transparent, promoting citizenship and streamlining paperwork for new businesses. She has been a champion for small businesses, making it easier to create and sustain jobs. As Governor, she’ll bring her energy and passion to fight for all the things that make Vermont such a special place -- its environment, vibrant communities, and its hard working people. EMILY's List is proud to support Deb Markowitz in her bid to become Governor of Vermont."
Below is an on-the-road update from Kate Coyne-McCoy, the EMILY'S List Political Opportunity Program (POP) director for the East Coast. Through POP, EMILY's List helps pro-choice Democratic women running for state and local level offices.
POP has been busy popping all over the country! In the last few months I have traveled 10,317 miles by plane, train and automobile. I’ve been from Rhode Island, where I live, to California, North Carolina, New York, Florida and many places in between.
I have trained 207 women to run for office and met individually with scores more to provide technical strategic guidance and campaign advice. I’ve helped candidates as they re-tooled finance plans, built campaign plans, created message and raised money. I’ve taught women how to find the voters who can get them elected and what to wear on camera. I’ve eaten fresh fish from the San Francisco bay, pizza by the slice in Brooklyn and Southern Fried Chicken with Collard greens (my personal favorite) in Atlanta. I’ve asked every waitress and female cabbie and store clerk I’ve met to consider running for office.
Because in POP we ask and we ask and we ask again.
In Atlanta my new partner in POP, Muthoni Wambu, and I trained 57 women from all over Georgia running for everything from county supervisor to state assembly. This incredibly diverse group of women included a young attorney who is currently seeking a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. Stacey Evans has been active in her community, is newly married, and passionate about improving her state’s economy. I bet that before my career is over I will call her Congresswoman.
In New York I am working with a young woman looking at a challenger race for a state Senate seat. She has energy and vision and is working hard every day to help New York get back on track. Everyone in Queens will know this gal by the time election day rolls around.
The work EMILY's List does is incredibly unique -- devoting resources to building the pipeline, working with the next generation of women leaders. I know that our success as a country depends on POP’s success tomorrow and the next day. I have the best job in America.
Exciting news in the POP world! We're thrilled Linda Chavez-Thompson won her primary race for lieutenant governor in Texas, a major victory for a key post in the state. Linda was supported by our Political Opportunity Program, which supports pro-choice Democratic women at the state and local level. Linda brought in 53 percent of the vote in a tough race, making her the party's nominee for the general election.
As the former Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO, Linda has the experience, a national fundraising base, and the voter appeal Democrats hope will spell victory at the polls in November. A Latina from southern Texas, Linda's compelling personal story and presence as the only female Democratic candidate for statewide office have ignited the party’s ticket. Republicans have had a monopoly on statewide offices in Texas, and if she wins, Linda would become the first Democrat elected to statewide office since 1994.
Linda has a tough road ahead, as the GOP rallies around its candidate, incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Dewhurst, who didn't have a primary opponent, also brings his own significant personal wealth to the race. And Republicans know how critical this race will be for the redistricting process in Texas, as the next lieutenant governor will have a seat on the Legislative Redistricting Board. But Linda's a seasoned fighter, and her campaign is ready to hit the ground running, reach out to voters, and raise the funds Linda will need to win this race.
Here's what Linda had to say about her victory:
"I'm humbled to have won the Democratic Primary without a runoff.... [O]ur job is just beginning as we take our message to independent voters, frustrated voters, and working families."
Exciting news in the Houston mayoral race! EMILY's List Political Opportunity Program candidate Annise Parker was one of the top two vote-getters, meaning she's headed to a Dec. 12 runoff election.
Annise garnered the most votes last night, bringing in 31 percent of the vote. Speaking to excited supporters at her post-election rally, Annise reminded them that they still have work to do.
“This race is not over,” she said. “Join me at headquarters tomorrow. We'll get back to work, and in five weeks, we'll claim victory.”
Congratulations, Annise!
We'll be sure to post results of the Dec. 12 runoff election.
It's election day in states around the country, and EMILY's List has Political Opportunity Program candidates in a number of highly anticipated contests. Here's a quick update on some of the races we'll be watching as election results come in tonight:
In Virginia, Jody Wagner is on the ballot for lieutenant governor. Wagner, who has served as Virginia's state treasurer and secretary of finance, has a solid understanding of economic principles that will serve the state well. During Jody's tenure, Virginia was named the best managed state in the nation twice, the best state for business three times, and the best state for raising children.
Jody has been endorsed by The Washington Post and she's racked up top endorsements from state leaders -- Gov. Tim Kaine calls her "an invaluable member of my team" who has "devoted herself to service, putting Virginia first."
In Houston, mayoral candidate Annise Parker is looking to move from her post as city controller to the city's top executive position. Annise has served the people of Houston for the last 11 years – first on the City Council, and for the last five years in her current role. She has 20 years of private sector experience in the energy industry, in addition to her work as a public servant. Annise has worked closely with Mayor Bill White and many other leaders to keep Houston moving forward, and she has the experience to lead the city during these tough economic times.
Poised to make history as the first openly gay woman to be elected mayor of a major U.S. city, Annise is in race that will likely hinge on every last vote.
And in Atlanta, Lisa Borders is also running for mayor. Lisa has long called Atlanta home -- raising her son Garry, becoming active in her community, and serving as the president of the Atlanta City Council.
Lisa has focused her energy and expertise on issues that help families -- education, healthcare, housing, and reducing crime. Atlanta needs Lisa to move into the next decade on sound footing.
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