Democratic Women Lead the Way in 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 29, 2018
Democratic Women Lead the Way in 2018
DLCC and EMILY's List partner to recruit, train, and elect women to state legislatures
WASHINGTON – The faces of power in state legislatures are changing this year. Around the United States, women are confronting the challenges facing the country in 2018 and are putting their energy into building a better nation by running for office in unprecedented numbers.
More than 2,300 Democratic women are running for their state legislatures this year – more than twice as many as the Republicans have running.
Currently women of both parties make up only 25 percent of all state legislators, a number that stands to increase after November 6. These inspiring candidates are in a position to smash the previous record of 1,875 women currently serving in their state legislatures.
State Democrats are just 17 seats away from reclaiming the majority in eight chambers — and with these strong candidates and the grassroots support mobilizing behind them, we have the momentum to do just that. EMILYs List, the DLCC, and state caucuses have partnered together to recruit, train, and elect Democratic women to state legislatures.
“Since Trump was elected President, the DLCC has flipped 44 seats from red to blue, and 27 of those flips were thanks to women running and winning,” said Jessica Post, executive director of the DLCC. “Headed into Nov. 6, we have the most Democrats running for their state legislature since 1982. We’re so excited about all these strong women running to make a difference in their communities – from expanding access to health care, to fully funding education, to fighting for equal rights for everyone. These women will change the face of power in our state legislatures and we are excited to do all we can to help them bring home victories.”
“Over 42,000 women have contacted EMILYs List since 2016 for help running for office to create positive change in their communities,” said Emily Cain, executive director of EMILYs List. “We’re so proud to have endorsed and supported more than 500 women – a record number for EMILYs List – for state and local offices this year, including many running for the first time. Republican-controlled state legislatures have pushed anti-choice policies through their gerrymandered majorities for years. It’s more important than ever to elect this wave of pro-choice progressive women leaders across the country to defend the rights of women and families. EMILYs List is proud to be standing with them as they usher in change nationwide.”
State legislators are working to pass laws that make a difference in their communities. We need strong Democratic women in office now — and we need to grow the pipeline of talented women for the future. After all, nearly 50 percent of current members of Congress started out serving in their state legislatures.
State Democrats are leading the resistance against the Republicans’ extremist policies while moving our nation forward one state at a time. We need as many people as possible to take the time to donate, volunteer, knock on doors, make phone calls, and do everything it takes to elect Democrats so we can change the face of power in statehouses across the country.
You can learn more about our work and how you can help at dlcc.org and at emilyslist.org.
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.
