EMILYs List Statement on Women’s Equality Day

For Immediate Release
August 26, 2020

EMILYs List Statement on Women’s Equality Day 

WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, as we celebrate Women's Equality Day, Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, released the following statement in recognition:

“A century after the beginning of women's suffrage in America, we see great progress for women's representation in government, but also know we have a long way to go to achieve true equality. The historic number of diverse women running for office across the country today is a reminder of how far we have come, but just as the 19th Amendment did not give all the women access to the vote, nor equal voice in government, women still have progress to make to have their voices heard in city halls, state houses, Congress and the White House. Women still make up just 24 percent of Congress and women of color continue to face obstacles and setbacks to accessing the ballot box.

As we continue the hard work toward fair representation in government, we have a tremendous opportunity this year to elect the first woman of color as vice president and expand the diversity and representation in our government. We are proud every day to work to elect pro-choice Democratic women to office who will champion women’s equality and ensure that the rights of all Americans are protected.”

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $600 million to elect pro-choice Democratic women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million members, EMILY's List helps Democratic women win competitive campaigns – across the country and up and down the ballot – by recruiting and training candidates, supporting strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 150 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 16 governors, and nearly 1,100 women to state and local office. Nearly 40 percent of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. During the historic 2017-2018 cycle, EMILYs List raised a record-breaking $110 million and launched a record independent expenditure campaign. We helped elect 34 new women to the House, including 24 red-to-blue victories; enough seats to have delivered the U.S. House majority alone. Since the 2016 election, more than 55,000 women have reached out to EMILY's List about running for office laying the groundwork for the next decade of candidates for local, state and national offices.