EMILY's List Endorses Mazie Hirono for the United States Senate

EMILY's List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, today announced its endorsement of Mazie Hirono for U.S. Senator of Hawaii.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- EMILY's List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, today announced its endorsement of Mazie Hirono for U.S. Senator of Hawaii.

"Mazie Hirono has spent her career fighting for the people of Hawaii and we are excited to endorse her campaign for the United States Senate," said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY's List. "Mazie has been a tireless advocate for public schools and quality early childhood education. She has consistently championed the rights of women and families in Hawaii and we need her strong voice in the Senate holding the line against the Republican war on women. The EMILY's List community was proud to support her in the past, loves her fighting spirit, and looks forward to helping her make history as the Senate's first Asian-American woman in November."

Hirono has a long history serving the people of Hawaii. First, Hirono served two years as a deputy attorney general in Hawaii before spending fourteen years in Hawaii's House of Representatives. In 1994, she was elected Lieutenant Governor where she served for two terms. She ran for Congress in 2006 and is currently serving her third term representing Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District.

The daughter of an immigrant, Hirono was born in Japan and moved to Hawaii at a young age. A national leader in advocating for quality early education, Hirono was named Pre-K Now's "Pre-K Champion" in 2008, and she was instrumental in creating Hawaii's Pre-Plus Program as lieutenant governor. If elected, Hirono will make history as the first Asian-American woman to serve to the United States Senate.

EMILY's List has had a long and proud history in Hawaii. Hawaii accounts for thousands of EMILY's List's most robust supporters and some of our groundbreaking campaigns. Rep. Patsy Mink made history when she was the first woman of color and first Asian-American woman elected to Congress when she was first elected in 1964, and EMILY's List proudly helped her mount her return in 1990.

EMILY's List supported Hirono in her past campaigns.

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 85 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.