For Immediate Release
Feb 25, 2010
EMILY's List Endorses Linda Chavez-Thompson for Lieutenant Governor of Texas
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- EMILY's List, the nation's largest financial resource for women candidates, today announced its endorsement of Linda Chavez-Thompson for Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
"EMILY's List is proud to endorse Linda Chavez-Thompson for Lieutenant Governor," said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List. "A former community organizer and lifelong advocate for working families, Linda understands the challenges people face everyday. As Lieutenant Governor, Linda will work to improve Texas' economy and to create jobs and opportunity for all. Linda's lifetime of service gives her the experience necessary to help lead Texas into the future."
"I am honored to receive the EMILY's List endorsement," said Chavez-Thompson. "With EMILY's List's support, I know we will build a strong campaign across Texas."
Chavez-Thompson has spent much of her life as a labor activist, rising to the top ranks of the national AFL-CIO, where she served as Executive Vice President, the first woman and first person of color to hold that office. Born in Lubbock, TX, she rose from an impoverished childhood where she picked cotton and cleaned homes to support her family and became a seasoned campaigner, fighting on behalf of working people across Texas. Chavez-Thompson currently serves on the Board of the Advanced Transportation District in San Antonio.
Over the years, EMILY's List has had much success in Texas, helping elect Ann Richards as the first woman elected governor in her own right in Texas. EMILY's List has also helped elect two Congresswomen and 18 women to state and local office in Texas.
EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program (POP) was created in 2001. POP recruits, trains, and supports pro-choice Democratic women running for state legislative, constitutional and key local offices. Since then, POP has helped elect hundreds of women across the United States.
EMILY's List is the nation’s largest financial resource for women candidates. In the 2007-2008 cycle, EMILY's List raised more than $43 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With more than 100,000 members across the country, EMILY's List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has worked to elect 80 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 15 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices.
