January 2009

TO: Majority Council Members
FROM: Ellen R. Malcolm
DATE: January 9, 2009

Change you can barely keep up with!

Happy, hard-working 2009! It’s been a busy, busy time here in Washington, as the city prepares to inaugurate the 44th president. At EMILY’s List, we are particularly interested in the changes that are taking place in the states, where President-elect Barack Obama’s cabinet and staff selections have opened up new opportunities to add women to office. The appointment process to replace Obama and Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate has been dramatic, to say the least (especially in Illinois!). Every time I put pen to paper to describe what’s happening, the situation in each state changes. I can say with certainty that EMILY’s List is working to ensure that Democratic women play a key role, especially in New York, where three prominent women -- Cong. Carolyn Maloney, Cong. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Caroline Kennedy -- are among the names being mentioned as potential picks. Ultimately, it’s up to Gov. David Paterson, who will make a decision any day now.

In Illinois, Cong. Rahm Emanuel’s Chicago-area seat is up for grabs, with a special primary election March 3 to choose a replacement for the new White House chief of staff. As many as 11 candidates are running in the fifth district, with more likely to enter before the filing deadline. Leading the field is state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, who quickly lined up support for her campaign and raised $300,000 by January 2. Feigenholtz is a progressive leader and skilled 14-year veteran of the state House. The fifth district is safely Democratic, so whoever wins the March 3 primary is certain to win the April 7 general election. We expect a knock-down, drag-out fight, as befits Chicago politics

Obama’s selection of Cong. Hilda Solis of California to head the Department of Labor throws open her safely Democratic seat in east L.A. At this writing, there are potentially two pro-choice Democratic women in the race: Judy Chu, chair of the state board of equalization and a former state assemblywoman, and state Sen. Gloria Romero. Both have received support from EMILY’s List’s Political Opportunity Program during their careers. After Solis officially resigns her seat, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will schedule a special election to take place between 56 to 70 days hence. In California, if one candidate earns more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, he or she is declared the winner; if no one exceeds 50 percent, there will be a special run-off election eight weeks later.

We thought we had a new pro-choice Democratic woman governor in New Mexico, where Lt. Gov. Diane Denish was slated to take over for Bill Richardson, Obama’s pick as secretary of commerce. Richardson’s decision to withdraw his nomination means he will remain as governor until his second and final term ends in 2010. Denish is still the leading contender to replace Richardson, but will not have the advantages of incumbency that his exit would have afforded her.

Celebrating the Power to Change with EMILY’s List

If you can’t be there in person, you can still join us live online at noon EST on Sunday, January 18, at www.emilyslist.org to share in “Power to Change,” a celebration of the 2008 election and inauguration of Barack Obama. We’ll be streaming the event in real time and then posting video and photos of our special guests, including Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Homeland Security-designate Janet Napolitano; our two brand new women senators, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire; and North Carolina’s new governor, Bev Perdue. So log onto www.emilyslist.org at 12 noon EST to join us live, direct from Washington, D.C.

Looking ahead to 2010

In addition to pursuing special election opportunities, we are looking ahead to 2010, working with prospective candidates for House, Senate, and governor, and holding POP trainings for state and local candidates. EMILY’s List political staff is already on the ground recruiting candidates and helping them do the early work that goes into building a winning campaign.

One of the most exciting emerging opportunities is in Florida, where GOP Sen. Mel Martinez has decided not to seek a second term. Florida’s chief financial officer, Alex Sink (also a longtime Majority Council member), would be a strong contender for what is likely to be the hottest Senate race of the cycle. We’ve had several conversations with Alex and expect to have more in the coming weeks. We’re also keeping a close watch on California, where Sen. Barbara Boxer could face a tough Republican challenger like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. And, of course, we’ll be ready if there are any unexpected challenges to Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Patty Murray, who are also up for re-election in 2010.

Winning so many Republican-held House seats in 2006 and 2008 means we must be prepared to defend our gains in 2010. The ink was barely dry on the November 4 results before some of our winners had already drawn GOP opponents for their re-election; in fact, the DCCC estimates as many as 70 Democratic House members are vulnerable to Republican challenges in 2010. The time to help our women build strong re-election campaigns is now. That’s why we’ve been implementing our New Member Program, to advise our newly elected women on how to develop effective and efficient ways to set up their offices and district operations, hire staff, and secure important committee assignments. We all met for dinner on January 7, the day after they were sworn into office, and I can tell you these women are excited and ready to get to work rebuilding the economy and turning our country in a new direction.

As we shift back into campaign mode to help women win special elections and build strong 2010 campaigns, I hope you will re-commit yourself to our mission by renewing your EMILY’s List membership for 2009. We need your continued support as we move into the next challenge, the midterm election — the one that will determine whether Barack Obama continues to have strong allies in Congress to help enact his agenda of change. Turnout historically drops in the nonpresidential year; it will be up to EMILY’s List to make sure the women voters who made the winning difference for Obama and Democrats last fall are there in November 2010 to pull the lever for our candidates. Please, if you have not already done so, renew your Majority Council membership today!