EMILYs List Announces 2018 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award Nominees

For Immediate Release

March 1, 2018  

EMILYs List Announces 2018 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award Nominees

Award Recognizes Extraordinary Women Serving in State or Local Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced its 2018 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award Nominees. They include: Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Washington State Representative Kristine Reeves, Tucson City Councilor Regina Romero, Missouri state Representative Cora Faith Walker, Colorado state Representative Faith Winter, and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu.

“This incredible and diverse group of women have distinguished themselves through progressive leadership and public service,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List. “With near-constant attacks on our values coming at every level of government, it could not be more important to have champions working on behalf of women and families. These elected officials have demonstrated their commitment to their states and communities by advocating progressive causes like paid family leave, access to reproductive health care options, and equal pay. EMILYs List is proud to acknowledge the work these women are doing, and we look forward to supporting them throughout their careers.”

Named in honor of the dedicated and courageous Gabrielle Giffords, the Rising Star Award celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office. The award honors a woman who demonstrates the sort of commitment to community, dedication to women and families, and determination and civility that have been the highlights of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ career, in and out of office. Previous Rising Star Award recipients include Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in 2014, Boston City Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley in 2015, Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran in 2016, and Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym in 2017.

The Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award winner will be chosen with community input.

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 trained nearly 10,000 women to run and 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 – including every single Latina, African American, and Asian American Democratic congresswoman currently serving.