EMILY's List Announces Endorsement of Chellie Pingree for Maine 1st District

WASHINGTON, D.C. — EMILY's List, the nation's largest political action committee and financial resource for women running for elective office, today announced its endorsement of Chellie Pingree in her bid to represent Maine's first congressional district.

"Chellie Pingree is a strong leader who isn't afraid to make her voice heard," said Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List. "Her experience as a four term legislator, an entrepreneur, and president of Common Cause has amply prepared her to represent Maine's first district in Washington. The time has come for Maine to send its first Democratic woman to Congress, someone Mainers know they can count on. There is no candidate more qualified to take on that challenge than Chellie Pingree. No candidate will work harder or be more effective for the people of Maine."

A long-time resident of the community of North Haven, Pingree got her start as a small business owner, operating a farm and a knitting business before entering public life. Her background makes her acutely attuned to the voices of the citizens of Maine. As a member of Congress, Pingree will continue to take a stand on the issues that matter most to her constituents—expanding access to affordable health care, investing in renewable energy sources, and ending the war in Iraq.

Chellie Pingree knows how to get results. She served for eight years in the Maine senate before term limits prevented her from seeking re-election. During that time, she not only rose to the position of senate majority leader, but also became the driving force behind Maine Rx, the first plan in the nation to lower prescription drug costs. She also served for four years as the president of Common Cause, a non-partisan watchdog organization that works to ensure government accountability and representative democracy.

Pingree is not afraid of a fight. From working for clean elections, to being one of the first Democrats in America to criticize the war in Iraq and call it a "mistake," Chellie is the one candidate in this crowded primary that the people of Maine already know they can count on. She stands by her beliefs then and she will continue to do so in Washington as Maine's first Democratic congresswoman.

"I am honored to have the support of the thousands of men and women who are members of EMILY's List," said Chellie Pingree. "The people of Maine deserve principled leadership that will fight for what matters to them and I'm determined to give them that kind of representation in Washington."

With more than 100,000 members across the country, EMILY's List is the largest political action committee in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has raised over $240 million to elect 67 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 13 to the U.S. Senate, and eight governors. Over the course of 22 years, EMILY's List has helped elect hundreds of pro-choice Democratic women to federal office, state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices.