EMILY's List Congratulates Joyce Beatty

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, congratulates Joyce Beatty on her victory in the Democratic primary in Ohio’s third congressional district.

“Joyce is an experienced businesswoman and longtime community advocate for Ohio families,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “A strong voice for women, small businesses and education, Joyce’s leadership and dedication are exactly what Ohioans need in Washington. With strong pro-choice Democratic women like Joyce leading the way, 2012 is poised to be an historic year for women in politics.”

The daughter of a brick maker turned small business owner, Joyce Beatty learned the value of small businesses at an early age. She started small businesses of her own, and went on to develop organizations to support other female entrepreneurs. Beatty carried her passion for her community and small business ownership into the Ohio House, where she served as the first woman to hold her state house seat, the first African American woman Assistant Minority Leader, and the first female Democratic Minority Leader in Ohio history. While in office, she fought to ensure that poor and uninsured women had access to cancer screenings and secured $400 million to help improve Ohio’s schools. She currently serves as the Ohio State University’s first female African American Senior Vice President.

EMILY’s List raised more than $38.5 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 a community of more than 1,000,000 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 87 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 16 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices. In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY’s List had the largest number of members and donors in our 27 year history.