FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2022
CONTACT: Kaleb Harmon
kaleb@emergeamerica.org
Emerge Alums Celebrate Primary Victories, Look to Flip Legislatures in November
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 Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington. The organization had 64 alums on the ballot, and out of the 41 races that have been called, 33 alums won their primaries–an 80% 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 are an important step in flipping state legislatures blue and creating new Democratic trifectas in key battleground states. In Arizona, Emerge alum Katie Hobbs won her primary for Governor while Democrats look to flip at least one state House and Senate seat to form Arizona’s first Democratic trifecta since 1966. Emerge alums in Michigan seek to do the same, needing to flip just five legislative seats to form a trifecta of their own. This comes at a pivotal time as Americans look to state legislatures and governors’ mansions to safeguard their rights.
“Last night’s primaries were an essential part of taking back and repowering our nation’s political structures,” said A’shanti F. Gholar, president of Emerge. “We’ve seen a clear contrast between how Democratic and Republican legislatures are treating our rights, whether it’s abortion care, marriage equality, voting rights, or others. If we’re going to protect these rights, we need to build more Democratic trifectas across the country–and that’s exactly what voters entrusted Emerge alums to do last night. From the top of the ticket down, it will be the strength and success of women candidates and Emerge alums that will carry us through November and make the changes our communities need in office. Congratulations to all of our alums in yesterday’s elections and we can’t wait to see the rest of your victories on the ballot this year.”
Some alums who won in Tuesday’s primaries:
- Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs won her primary for Arizona Governor. She will lead Arizona’s Democratic ticket this November.
- Congresswoman Kim Schrier won her primary for Washington’s 8th Congressional District. Congresswoman Schrier is the only woman physician in Congress and is running for re-election in a DCCC Frontline race.
- First time candidate Laura Terech won her primary for Arizona’s 4th House District, a seat that currently has both a Democratic and Republican representative, making it a critically important race to flip the Arizona state House blue.
- State Rep. Lori Stone won her primary for Michigan’s 28th House District, an important hold for Democrats to form a Democratic trifecta in Michigan in 2022.
- State Rep. Alicia Rule won her primary for Washington’s 42nd House District-Position 1, a seat she flipped blue in 2020 as Democrats look to create a supermajority in Washington.
- Michelle Morales won her primary for Walla Walla County Prosecutor as a first time candidate. If elected, she will be the first Hispanic person and first woman to serve in the role.
These victories add to the overall success Emerge is experiencing in 2022. The organization already saw 40 alums win their elections this spring and more than 350 win their primaries. Including last night’s primaries, Emerge already has more than 475 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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