Statement From Emerge President A’shanti F. Gholar on President Biden’s State of the Union Address

Statement From Emerge President A’shanti F. Gholar on President Biden’s State of the Union Address

Washington, DC–A’shanti F. Gholar, president of Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, released a statement following President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

“Tonight President Joe Biden championed an America resilient in the face of its problems, because when Americans come together to solve our biggest issues, we always emerge stronger. At Emerge, we know this is true because we see it everyday, in our candidate trainings and in the work of Emerge alums in office.

When we recruit for our training programs, the number one thing we hear from women who want to run for office is that they are motivated to run so that they can solve kitchen table issues. Emerge women face questions from their communities like: how am I going to make ends meet this week? How am I going to pay that unexpected medical bill? This is not just what’s on communities’ minds, this is what is on Emerge women’s minds because Emerge candidates are women of their communities.

That’s why Emerge women are women on a mission. Whether it’s State Rep. Leslie Herod passing police reform in Colorado, State Del. Danica Roem protecting LGBTQ+ rights in Virginia, or State Rep. Andrea Valderrama strengthening abortion rights in Oregon, Emerge women are delivering for the people who elected them.

Just like President Joe Biden –whether it’s creating good paying jobs, or reducing energy and healthcare costs–we know that these are the issues voters care about. Frankly, these policies resonate with everyday Americans because they impact Americans every day, regardless of race, party, or region.

Now contrast this with what Republicans bring to the table: men shouting from the bully pulpit to whip up public fears about targeted communities, be they Black voters, trans kids, or refugees. Men with no solutions for the problems our nation faces. It’s no wonder President Joe Biden is well on his way to a second term.

At Emerge, we will continue the vital work of getting more Democratic women in office to strengthen our democracy and lead this country toward a brighter future. Emerge alums will lift up the policies that create opportunities for all Americans. We look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration on building a better country.”

Emerge has trained more than 5,500 alums since 2002 and currently has more than 1,200 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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