More Victories
EMILY's List is excited to report that these important races were won by candidates supported by EMILY’s List's Political Opportunity Program.
California
Debra Bowen is the new Secretary of State in California. POP endorsed Bowen in August 2005 and provided her campaign with a Campaign Corps staffer in late 2005 to help give her campaign the early infrastructure it needed. In the California Assembly, women have been named to six of the 12 Democratic Caucus leadership positions.
Colorado
In Colorado, POP helped Cary Kennedy in her successful campaign for State Treasurer as well as two pro-choice Democratic women leaders in the legislature: Alice Madden is Majority Leader of the House and Joan Fitz-Gerald is Senate President. We held the Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate adding three new pro-choice Democratic women to the House — Sara Gagliardi, Jeanne Labuda, and Claire Levy and one, Gail Schwartz, to the Senate.
Florida
A new star has risen in Florida by the name of Alex Sink, Chief Financial Officer. Sink was the only woman elected statewide in 2006. Her win means she joins Sen. Bill Nelson as the only victorious statewide Democrat from election night.
Hawaii
Jill Tokuda, a new, young pro-choice Democratic woman, was elected to the state Senate in Hawaii. Colleen Hanabusa was elected the new president of the state Senate — the first woman to preside over a chamber in the state legislature and the first Asian American woman in the country to preside over a state legislative body.
Iowa
In Iowa, POP helped break the tie in the Iowa Senate with the election of two pro-choice Democratic women — Staci Appel and Becky Schmitz. These victories tripled the number of pro-choice Democratic women in the Iowa Senate. POP also helped take back the Iowa House with two pro-choice Democratic women candidates, Elesha Gayman and Doris Kelley.
Michigan
POP helped take back the Michigan House by adding four new pro-choice Democratic women — Joan Bauer, Barbara Byrum, Mary Valentine, and Rebekah Warren.
Minnesota
If you live in House district 56A and 56B, you are now represented by new pro-choice Democratic women in the state House and state Senate. Your new State Auditor, Rebecca Otto, and your new Attorney General, Lori Swanson, are both pro-choice Democratic women. And finally, your new U.S. Senator is Amy Klobuchar, who held on to a Democratic Senate seat and helped turn the power in the U.S. Senate.
Nevada
It was a great night for Democratic women on the state level in Nevada. Three of the five constitutional statewide offices are now held by Democratic women — Treasurer Kate Marshall, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, and Controller Kim Wallin. These women made history in Nevada, becoming the first Democrats elected to statewide office since 2003.
New Hampshire
The Democratic wave was a strong one in New Hampshire this cycle. Both the Senate and the House turned Democratic. And in the Senate, five new Democratic women were elected with EMILY’s List help. Senate Minority Leader Sylvia Larsen is now poised to be the new Senate president.
New Mexico
POP helped two pro-choice Democratic women statewide candidates in New Mexico — re-electing Diane Denish as Lieutenant Governor and electing Mary Herrera for Secretary of State.
New York
Andrea Stewart Cousins was elected to represent the New York Senate in District 35. Cousins ran last cycle for this seat and lost after a three month recount by just 18 votes.
Ohio
In Ohio, POP helped elect Jennifer Brunner as Secretary of State. This seat is important for the state of Ohio, for the next presidential campaign in 2008, and for redistricting, as the Secretary of State has a seat on the Apportionment Board.
Oregon
Jean Cowan and Tina Kotek were elected to the Oregon House of Representatives and helped Democrats take back the chamber. Both ran and lost in 2004 — Cowan by just 414 votes — but came back and won this November.
Rhode Island
A three term state Senator, Elizabeth Roberts was elected to the Lieutenant Governor’s post. She is the first woman in more than a decade to serve in statewide office in Rhode Island and is the first female Lieutenant Governor.
Texas
Texas added two pro-choice Democratic women to the state House earlier this year in special elections, Ana Hernandez and Donna Howard, and added another three, Valinda Bolton, Ellen Cohen, and Paula Hightower Pierson, in November.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin re-elected Barbara Lawton as Lieutenant Governor and added one new pro-choice Democratic woman, Ann Hraychuck, to the State Assembly. In addition, Sen. Judy Robson was elected the new Democratic Majority Leader.