Emily’s List endorses Rockeymoore Cummings in bid for Md governor

The Washington Post: Emily’s List endorses Rockeymoore Cummings in bid for Md governor

By Ovetta Wiggins

Policy consultant Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, one of two women vying to unseat Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), received an endorsement Monday from Emily’s List, a political action committee that pushes to elect Democratic female candidates who support abortion rights.

The PAC plans to advise Rockeymoore Cummings, who has never run for political office, and steer campaign contributions from its national network to her campaign.

Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily’s List, described Rockeymoore Cummings as a “progressive trailblazer” with “bold ideas and real-world experience.”

“Maya Rockeymoore Cummings will be a courageous leader and strong champion for healthy, thriving communities for Maryland’s children and families in a state that has never before elected a woman or person of color as governor,” Schriock said in a statement. EMILYs List is thrilled to stand by her side.”

Rockeymoore Cummings, who is married to U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md), launched her bid for governor earlier this month, becoming the eighth candidate to join the crowded Democratic primary.

“Emily’s List’s very first victory was when Senator Barbara Mikulski shattered the glass ceiling right here in Maryland, and I’m thrilled to have their endorsement as my campaign continues to build momentum across the state,” she said in a statement.

Rockeymoore Cummings is a small-business owner who is focusing her campaign on addressing economic inequality in the state.

She and Krishanti Vignarajah, who served as Michelle Obama’s former policy director, are the only women in the race.

The other candidates include Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, former NAACP president Ben Jealous, State Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., tech entrepreneur Alec Ross and attorney Jim Shea.