FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2022
CONTACT: Kaleb Harmon
kaleb@emergeamerica.org
Emerge Alums Win Big, 72% Midterm Win Rate
Washington, DC—Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, announced a sweeping wave of wins in the 2022 midterm elections as Democrats defied expectations across the country. The organization had more than 650 alums on the ballot and, with more than 440 races called, Emerge women have a 72% win rate so far. These were critical wins in some of the most competitive races in the country that are responsible for making the control of Congress a toss up, creating a Democratic trifecta in Michigan for the first time in 40 years, and holding Democratic majorities in critical state legislatures.
Women of the New American Majority–Black, Brown and Indigenous women and women of color, as well as LGBTQ+, young, and unmarried women–were at the center of the success of Emerge alums. 57% of Emerge alums on the ballot last night were NAM women and, out of the races that have been called, 141 women of color, 62 women under 45, and 21 LGBTQ alums won their races. Additionally, Emerge’s first-time candidates celebrated a 45% win rate, a stellar showing compared to a usual win rate of 10-15% for first-time candidates running for office who have not been trained by Emerge.
“Democrats won because of candidate quality. We ran candidates who appeal to voters of the New American Majority, because our candidates ARE the New American majority. That’s why Democrats did not take these voters for granted. This shows in the results, and this focus must remain as it is a key part of how Democrats win,” said A’shanti F. Gholar, president of Emerge. “Republicans decided that this year, of all years, was the time to take away abortion rights, and put people in same-sex and interracial marriages on notice in the process. And women took it personally, as they should. You come for someone’s rights, and there will be consequences. Republicans learned that firsthand.
Kansas was the warning sign, and they chose to ignore it. Then last night, voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont enshrined abortion rights in their state constitutions, Kentucky defeated its abortion ban, and things are looking strong for the ballot initiative in Montana. What a miscalculation to underestimate women voters.
President Biden said ‘MAGA Republicans don’t have a clue about the power of women. They are about to find out.’ And last night, they did. And while voters rejected MAGA extremists and Democrats outpaced expectations, Emerge alums had an even better night.”
Emerge women were a force in transforming the country’s elected offices:
- Six were elected to Congress, including women running in key battleground districts such as Virginia Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and Ohio State Rep. Emilia Sykes.
- 12 were elected to statewide offices including “firsts” to hold their office such as Andrea Campbell who is the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts.
- 185 were elected to state legislative offices.
- Three new Democratic trifectas were built in Maryland, Michigan, and Massachusetts.
- A Democratic supermajority was built in Vermont.
Gholar continued: “A lot of pundits will ask how Republicans lost this election cycle. And between Dobbs, promoting election deniers, and attacking our safety nets, they certainly didn’t help themselves. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise us if the reason we saw all those junk polls flooding the airwaves in the past month is because they knew how unpopular their stance on abortion is with Americans, and they were desperate, trying anything to suppress the vote.
But make no mistake, last night’s results happened because Democrats gave voters a strong group of candidates to support and voters showed up. That’s why from Congress, to governorships, to state legislatures nationwide, it’s all on the field in 2023 and 2024.”
Following the banner midterm election, Emerge held a press conference with alums in key races and states across the country to talk about the trends and dynamics of the midterm elections. A recording of that call can be found here.
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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