EMILYs List Statement on Former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler released the following statement on the passing of former New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy:

“Former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy was a trailblazer who broke barriers for women in politics and turned personal loss into lasting impact. As a nurse, she ran for office after her husband was killed and her son was wounded in a mass shooting on the Long Island Rail Road, flipping a Republican seat by a wide margin. In office, she became one of the most prominent voices for gun control, bringing her lived experience to fight tirelessly for a cause that was extremely personal. Her nearly two decades of work in Congress inspired generations of survivors and advocates who are still fighting against gun violence today. We honor her life and her legacy as a symbol of resilience and strength.”

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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. Over 40 years, EMILYs List has raised nearly $950 million to help 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 most impactful 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, 192 women to the House, 29 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,600 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.