July 2009
To: Majority Council Members
From: Ellen R. Malcolm
Date: July 17, 2009
Read My Lipstick: The EMILY’s List blog
If you visit www.emilyslist.org regularly, you know that we’re constantly adding new information and features about our candidates and women in politics. Well, this month, we’re joining the blogosphere with Read My Lipstick: the EMILY’s List blog. It’s a clearinghouse for all the news on women and politics -- the place to go for all you need to know.
Launched on July 13, the first day of the Senate confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, the blog features real-time updates on those hearings, guest columns from elected women and political strategists, and timely commentary on political news from members of the EMILY’s List staff. You’ll find video and photos, news footage, campaign ads, and on-the-ground stories from our campaigns -- content you won’t find anywhere else on the web.
Best of all, we heartily encourage you to give us your thoughts, ideas, opinions, kudos, and complaints. Make the blog your own! Ask questions, post comments, and engage in discussions with EMILY’s List staff and other members.
You’ll find something new every day on the EMILY’s List blog. I encourage you to join the conversation today at www.emilyslist.org/blog.
EMILY’s List endorses Sink, Denish for governor
Technically the election is next year, but you wouldn’t know it from the atmosphere at EMILY’s List. Our political staff are constantly in motion, recruiting women to run, checking in with nascent campaigns, and helping candidates get ready for benchmarks like the June 30 Federal Election Commission fundraising deadline. In the last few weeks, we’ve announced two new, major candidate endorsements: Alex Sink for governor of Florida and Diane Denish for governor of New Mexico.
Alex Sink represents the Democrats’ best chance to win the governor’s mansion in Florida, one of the most populous states and one of the most important, politically. This seat is open because GOP Governor Charlie Crist is running for U.S. Senate. Democrats are united behind Alex, the state’s chief financial officer, who spent nearly 30 years as a top-level bank executive, rising to the level of Florida president of NationsBank during the 1990s. As CFO, a statewide elected office, Alex has been a leader on transparency and accountability in finance, protecting seniors from financial fraud, and helping Florida families weather the mortgage crisis. Her likely opponent for governor is state Attorney General Bill McCollum, a right-wing former member of Congress who gained notoriety as one of 13 House managers during the impeachment trial of President Clinton. McCollum was once described by a Florida columnist as being “so conservative he makes Rush Limbaugh look like Jane Fonda,” and “separated at birth from Howdy Doody.” He is anti-choice and will be able to raise millions of dollars for his campaign. Electing a Democratic woman governor of Florida would be a major achievement, and we are working hard to make sure she has the resources she needs to win this tough race.
Now in her second term as lieutenant governor, Diane Denish is Democrats’ obvious choice to succeed Governor Bill Richardson, who cannot seek a third term due to term limits. As lieutenant governor, Diane has developed a broad portfolio of leadership: helping citizens secure micro-loans for small businesses, establishing pre-kindergarten in New Mexico, and expanding access to affordable housing. Polling shows Diane with a lead over likely Republican opponents, including former GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson. The state Republican party has already gone on the attack, airing TV ads against Diane more than a year before the election. Wilson has raised millions of dollars for her congressional campaigns and will be able to do the same for a governor’s race, so we are committed to helping Diane prepare for what will likely be a costly race.
You can read more about Alex and Diane on our web site. We are getting ready to recommend several more candidates to you in a mailing in August; check www.emilyslist.org for the latest news on additional endorsements.
And then there were 80….
It’s official -- as of July 14, EMILY’s List has helped elect 80 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House of Representatives! Last month I reported extensively on Dr. Judy Chu’s victory in the primary special election to replace Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in California’s 32nd district. This is a heavily Democratic seat, so we fully expected Judy to prevail in the general election. You can find details of Judy’s victory in the primary and general elections, and information about her swearing-in, on our web site, www.emilyslist.org. With the confirmation of Ellen Tauscher as under secretary of state for arms control, Californians are gearing up for another special congressional election to replace her in the 10th district. This Bay Area seat is also strongly Democratic, so the Sept. 1 primary is expected to be decisive. At least six Democrats are vying for the nomination, including Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan. As with Judy Chu’s race, the names of all candidates, regardless of party, will appear on the primary ballot. If no candidate receives 50 percent (+1) of the vote, the top vote-getters from each party will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Save the date: EMILY’s silver anniversary and 2010 Majority Council Conference
2010 is a big year for EMILY’s List -- we’ll be celebrating 25 years of harnessing the power of women in politics! We’ll mark the anniversary in many ways throughout the year, but I hope you’ll set aside April 29 and plan on joining us here in Washington, D.C., for an official celebration, which will coincide with the 2010 Majority Council conference April 29 and 30. Save the date and watch for more details in coming months!