EMILY’s List Congratulates Suzanne Bonamici on her Victory in Oregon’s First Congressional District

WASHINGTON, D.C. – EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, today congratulates Suzanne Bonamici on her special election win in Oregon’s first congressional district. With this victory EMILY’s List makes history, winning three special elections in one cycle.

“From day one, EMILY’s List has stood with Suzanne and we could not be prouder of the race she ran or her victory tonight,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “Suzanne has always been an unfailing advocate for middle class families and she will continue to be a champion on issues like education, job creation, and environmental protection in Congress. The people of Oregon’s first district know that Suzanne’s dedication to women and families – not extreme Tea Party ideology – is what Congress needs.

“2012 is set to be an historic year for Democratic women in politics. The momentum started with Kathy Hochul’s special election win in New York and it will end with a Democratic majority in November. Suzanne’s victory continues this trend -- women are leading the way back for Democrats in 2012.”

Suzanne Bonamici entered the Oregon State Legislature as a Representative in 2006 and as a Senator in 2008. She was elected to Assistant Majority Leader in the Oregon State Senate in 2011. Bonamici has built a strong record of protecting consumers, making women’s health care more accessible and strengthening Oregon’s schools. Before serving in the state house, Bonamici worked as a consumer protection attorney, cracking down on unfair lending practices. She lives with her husband and two grown children in Portland.

EMILY’s List WOMEN VOTE! reached out to over 22,000 key women voters in Oregon during the primary in a direct mail program that highlighted Bonamici’s long career of holding corporations accountable. Leading up to the general election WOMEN VOTE! launched a significant television advertisement and online campaign using Tea Party politician Rob Cornilles’ own words to help women voters in Oregon understand how out of step his views are on choice.

EMILY’s List is proud to have supported Bonamici from the beginning of her political career. In 2006, EMILY’s List Political Opportunity Program (POP) supported her campaign for Oregon State Legislature.

In the 2009-2010 cycle, 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 900,000 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 25 year history.