EMILYs List Endorses 16 More Women Leaders for the Illinois General Assembly

For Immediate Release
September 22, 2020

EMILYs List Endorses 16 More Women Leaders for the Illinois General Assembly

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed 16 more women leaders for the Illinois General Assembly. Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List, released the following statement: 

“EMILYs List is thrilled to endorse 16 more dedicated public servants for the Illinois General Assembly. From serving their communities as educators and firefighters to providing a voice for working families, these women are the fearless leaders we need in Springfield. Illinoisans deserve representatives who will protect small businesses, invest in quality public education, and fight to ensure their voices are heard at the ballot box and beyond. EMILYs List is proud to stand with them and we look forward to increasing the representation of pro-choice Democratic women in both chambers this November.” 

EMILYs List endorsed the following women: 
Celina Villanueva (SD-11)
Melinda Bush (SD-31)
Eva Dina Delgado (HD-03)
Lakesia Collins (HD-09)
Margaret Croke (HD-12)
Michelle Darbro (HD-20)
Janet Yang Rohr (HD-41)
Diane Pappas (HD-45)
Terra Costa Howard (HD-48)
Maura Hirschauer (HD-49)
Mary Edly-Allen (HD-51)
Joyce Mason (HD-61)
Martha Paschke (HD-65)
Suzanne Ness (HD-66) 
Charlene Eads (HD-79)
Dagmara Avelar (HD-85)

These endorsements are in addition to the three previously endorsed EMILYs List candidates in Illinois: Cristina Castro (SD-22), Theresa Mah (HD-02), and Kim Foxx (Cook County State's Attorney).  

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $600 million to elect pro-choice Democratic women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million members, EMILY's List helps Democratic women win competitive campaigns – across the country and up and down the ballot – by recruiting and training candidates, supporting strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 150 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 16 governors, and nearly 1,100 women to state and local office. Nearly 40 percent of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. During the historic 2017-2018 cycle, EMILYs List raised a record-breaking $110 million and launched a record independent expenditure campaign. We helped elect 34 new women to the House, including 24 red-to-blue victories; enough seats to have delivered the U.S. House majority alone. Since the 2016 election, more than 55,000 women have reached out to EMILY's List about running for office laying the groundwork for the next decade of candidates for local, state, and national offices.