More than 120 Emerge Alums Win On Election Night in Critical Year for Democrats

  • Nov 8, 2019
  • Emerge Staff

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 6, 2019

CONTACT: Danielle Noel

202-780-5953; danielle@emergeamerica.org

MORE THAN 120 EMERGE ALUMS WIN ON ELECTION NIGHT IN CRITICAL YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS 

As Democrats take control of the Virginia State Legislature for the first time in 20 years, women helped change the face of political power up and down the ballot

Washington, D.C. – Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, announced today that more than 120 Emerge alumnae and counting have won their races. Even as votes continue to be tallied, there are already important victories at all levels of government, including state legislatures and local offices. Notably, several Emerge alums won races in the historic state legislative elections in Virginia last night when Democrats flipped both chambers for the first time in 20 years, as well as in states like Massachusetts where for the first time ever, women will occupy the majority of Boston City Council seats.

“Last night’s election is further proof that women are the answer to changing the face of politics in America and ensuring that people have the representation they deserve,” said Amanda Renteria, Interim President of Emerge. “There is no such thing as an “off-year” election–every year is critical to helping build infrastructure for the Democratic Party, electing candidates who can broaden the electoral base and educating voters about public policies that will impact families and communities. As we head into 2020, we will only continue to see this movement grow.”

More on Emerge wins so far:

  • More than 120 Emerge alums and counting have won their races across the country with more than 40 races still left to call;
  • So far, 40 percent of Emerge alums who were first-time candidates won their races;
  • In Virginia, a total of 11 Emerge alums will serve in the newly Democratic-controlled General Assembly including Delegates Hala Ayala, Jennifer Carroll Foy, Kathy Tran, Danica Roem, Dawn Adams and Delegate-elect Shelly Simonds, and;
  • Six Emerge alums will serve on the new majority-woman Boston City Council.

Earlier today, Renteria, along with Emerge’s National Political Director A’shanti F. Gholar and Emerge alums Virginia Delegate-elect Shelly Simonds, Boston, Mass. City Councilor Lydia Edwards and Santa Fe, N.M. City Councilor Renee Villarreal held a briefing to offer an analysis of the 2019 election results. If you would like to hear a recording of the call, please click here.

To learn more about Emerge, visit www.emergeamerica.org.