EMILYs List Statement on Retirement of Rep. Grace Napolitano

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, Rep. Grace Napolitano of California announced she will retire after her current term in office ends. EMILYs List President Laphonza Butler released the following statement:

“Rep. Grace Napolitano has served Californians faithfully and delivered tangible results for her community for decades, as a city councilmember, a mayor, a member of the state Assembly, and then as a congresswoman. EMILYs List has been an enduring supporter of Napolitano during multiple elections, knowing of her strong commitment to reproductive freedom and to improving the lives of Californians. 

“In over a quarter of a century serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Napolitano has demonstrated a true passion for fighting for the freedom of Californians, championing legislation that has increased access to reliable transportation and mental health care, fighting against the epidemic of gun violence, and preserving her state’s great natural resources. As extremist anti-choice Republicans spent those years working to override the will of voters, Napolitano has stood up to them every step of the way, defending abortion access and advocating for the patients, families, and doctors affected by unjust and cruel restrictions on critical health care.

“EMILYs List is proud to congratulate Napolitano on a lifetime of extraordinary service to the state of California and to the American people, and we look forward to seeing California’s 31st Congressional District continue her legacy in the years to come.”

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities. Our work is centered around a fundamental vision: Run. Win. Change the World. EMILYs List has raised $850 million in service to that vision and has helped Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the largest independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect the country’s first woman as vice president, 175 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,500 women to state and local office. More than 40% of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Visit www.emilyslist.org for more information.