EMILYs List on Record-Breaking Number of Women Sworn In to the Virginia House of Delegates
January 10, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, released the following statement in reaction to the historic number of women being sworn in to the Virginia House of Delegates today.
“At EMILY's List, we know that Virginia will be the first of many states to elect a record number of women this cycle,” said EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock. “While 28% is not nearly a high enough percentage of women, this is how true institutional change begins. First a record-breaking number of women stepped up to run, then voters cast their ballots for these progressive, diverse leaders to be their champions. And in doing so, voters propelled these women to flip 11 of the 15 seats that went from red to blue on Election Day.
“EMILY's List congratulates all the pro-choice Democratic women taking the oath today, especially the 13 women we endorsed and were proud to work with directly throughout their campaigns. Because of their passion and tenacity, Virginia will serve as a shining example as we look to make historic gains across the country this November.”
The highest number of women to serve in the Virginia House previously was 19, last reached in 2013. Among the history-making women taking the oath today are the first trans woman, the first Latinas, and the first Asian American women to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Dawn Adams was elected to represent House District 68, Hala Ayala was elected to represent House District 51, Karrie Delaney was elected to represent House District 67, Kelly Fowler was elected to represent House District 21, Jennifer Carroll Foy was elected to represent House District 2, Wendy Gooditis was elected to represent House District 10, Elizabeth Guzman was elected to represent House District 31, Delores McQuinn was re-elected to represent House District 70, Kathleen Murphy was re-elected to represent House District 34, Debra Rodman was elected to represent House District 73, Danica Roem was elected to represent House District 13, Kathy Tran was elected to represent House District 42, and Cheryl Turpin was elected to represent House District 85.
EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $500 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making them one of the most successful political organizations ever. Our grassroots community of over five million members helps Democratic women wage competitive campaigns – and win. We recruit and train candidates, support strong campaigns, research the issues that impact women and families, and turn out women voters. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 116 women to the House, 23 to the Senate, 12 governors, and over 800 to state and local office. Forty percent of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Since the 2016 election, thousands of women and counting have reached out to us about running for office. To harness this energy, EMILYs List has launched Run to Win, an unprecedented effort to get more women to run at the local, state, and national levels.
