FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2022
CONTACT: Kaleb Harmon
kaleb@emergeamerica.org
Emerge Alums Celebrate Primary Victories Across the South
Washington, DC—Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, announced major victories following Tuesday’s primaries in Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia. The organization had 65 alums on the ballot and, out of the 63 races that have been called, 52 alums won their primaries–an 82% win rate. The winning Emerge alums from these states will go on to the general election in November, representing the unique backgrounds, experiences, and identities from their communities.
Tuesday’s victories underscored the success of women in the New American Majority–Black, Brown and Indigenous women and women of color, as well as LGBTQ+, young, and unmarried women–in 2022. 24 New American Majority alums won their primaries including trailblazing alums like Nakita Hemingway, who would be the first woman and the first Black woman to serve as Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner if elected. While women in the New American Majority are historically underrepresented in office, these women seek to repower traditional political structures and build equitable representation for communities across the South.
“The 2022 primary season is already showcasing powerful wins for Democratic women up and down the ballot,” said A’shanti F. Gholar, president of Emerge. “Last night’s primaries saw alums win in federal and statewide contests and at the state and local level. These alums will be critical in our efforts to expand representation across the South and provide new voices in our decision-making bodies at a time when fundamental rights like access to critical health care services and voting are under constant attack. They join the Emerge alums already headed to the November election, and I look forward to seeing the impact they will have on the campaign trail, the success they’ll find on the ballot, and celebrating their incredible victories together.”
Alums who won in Tuesday’s primaries include:
- Emerge Georgia alum Lucy McBath won her primary to become the Democratic nominee for Georgia’s 7th congressional district.
- Emerge Alabama alum Kathy Warner-Stanton won her primary to become the Democratic nominee for Alabama’s 5th congressional district. If elected in November, she would become the second Black woman elected to Congress from Alabama after Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07).
- Emerge Georgia alum Jen Jordan won her primary to become the Democratic nominee for Georgia’s attorney general. If elected in November, she would be the first woman elected as attorney general in the state of Georgia.
- Emerge Georgia alum Ruwa Romman won her primary to become the Democratic nominee for Georgia State House, District 97. If elected in November, she would become the first Muslim woman to serve in the General Assembly.
- Emerge Alabama alum Merika Coleman won her primary for Alabama State Senate, District 19. If elected in November, she will rise from the State House to the State Senate.
These victories add to the overall success Emerge is experiencing in 2022. The organization already saw 40 alums win their elections this spring and over 80 win their primaries–a 79% win rate nationally. Including last night’s primaries, Emerge already has more than 200 alums on the ballot in November running for federal, statewide, state, and local offices, and in some of the most competitive districts in the country. Emerge alums will be critical in flipping seats from red to blue, maintaining and expanding majorities in municipal and legislative bodies, and blazing new trails as the “firsts” to hold their offices.
Emerge has trained more than 5,000 alums since 2002 and currently has more than 1,000 alums in elected office across the country. The organization is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority over the next 15 years, fostering a lift as you climb culture for women in politics, and repowering political structures. There are currently 27 state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories.
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