FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2022
CONTACT: Kaleb Harmon
kaleb@emergeamerica.org
Emerge Alums Look to Make History as “Firsts” to Hold Their Seats
Washington, DC—Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, announced today that its alums are poised to make history as trailblazers this November, looking to become the firsts of their backgrounds and identities to serve in their positions. These women are part of the New American Majority–Black, Brown and Indigenous women and women of color, as well as LGBTQ+, young, and unmarried women–some of the fastest growing demographics in the country. If elected, they will provide new representation to their seats, repower the country’s political institutions, and work on underrepresented issues critical for their districts and their communities.
“The representation these trailblazers provide won’t just be felt on the campaign trail but also in the offices they’ll be elected to, the policies they’ll pass, and the initiatives at the center of their work,” said A’shanti F. Gholar, president of Emerge. “When we elect a diverse slate of women, we can reimagine what our political institutions look like and how they work for our communities. And just as importantly, while these women are looking to be the first to hold their seats, we know they won’t be the last. I’ve always said, if you can see it, you can be it, and these women will give a new generation the opportunity to see themselves in office and empower them to one day see themselves on the ballot too.”
Emerge alums are running to be the “firsts” to hold their seats at all levels of office. At the statewide level, they’re looking to provide new representation and leadership:
- Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General – First Black woman elected to a statewide office in Massachusetts and First Black woman elected Attorney General in New England
- Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut Secretary of the State – First Black woman elected to Secretary of State in Connecticut and in New England.
- Malia Cohen, California Controller – First Black woman elected to Controller in California.
- Nakita Hemingway, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner – First Black woman elected to Agriculture Commissioner in Georgia.
- Katie Hobbs, Arizona Governor – First out LGBTQ+ woman elected to Governor of Arizona.
Emerge alums are running for Congress as trailblazers:
- Becca Balint, VT-AL – First woman and first out LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from Vermont.
- Emilia Sykes, OH-13 – First Black woman to serve Ohio’s 13th Congressional District.
- Andrea Salinas, OR-06 – First woman to serve Oregon’s 6th Congressional District as well as the first Latina and first woman of color elected to Congress from Oregon.
- Jamie McLeod Skinner, OR-05 – First out LGBTQ+ woman elected to Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.
At the state and local level, dozens of Emerge alums are running as trailblazers as they look to provide new representation to their communities:
- London Lamar, Tennessee SD-33 – Youngest Black woman elected to Tennessee’s State Senate.
- Reena Szczepanski, New Mexico HD-47 – First woman and first AANHPI person elected to her district.
- Ruwa Romman, Georgia HD-97 – First Muslim elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives.
- Yvette De La Guardia, Jefferson County, KY District Judge, Division 4 – First Latina elected to her district.
- Helen Tran, San Bernardino, CA Mayor – First Vietnamese-American elected official in city history.
- Kate Donnally, Vermont HD-Lamoille-2 – First out LGBTQ+ person re-elected to her district.
For more information and a complete list of Emerge’s trailblazing alums on the November ballot, contact Kaleb Harmon at kaleb@emergeamerica.org.
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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