FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2018
CONTACT: Danielle Noel
202-780-5953; danielle@emergeamerica.org
Candidates who have graduated from the organization’s program are among a record number of Democratic women running for office in 2018
Washington, D.C. — Emerge America, the nation’s premier organization that recruits, trains and provides a powerful network to Democratic women who want to run for office, announced today that it has more than 560 alums on the Nov. 6 ballot. This year’s slate of candidates come from a variety of backgrounds and are running all across the country, helping to propel the historic surge in women candidates. Emerge candidates are running for offices at every level of government, and could flip a critical number of seats for the Democratic Party.
“2018 is so much more than the ‘Year of the Woman,’” said Andrea Dew Steele, President and Founder of Emerge America. “It is part of a movement that has been building for years and will change the face of politics in this country. Women of all races, socioeconomic statuses and from every region of America are stepping up to the plate to help their families and communities.”
Below is more information on 2018 Emerge candidates:
More than 560 women on the Nov. 6 ballot.
More than half of 2018 Emerge candidates are running for Congress, statewide office or state legislatures.
More than 60 percent of the Emerge alums on the November ballot are first-time candidates.
So far this year, Emerge America has had a primary win-rate of 72 percent and a general election win-rate of 80 percent.
Over 500 alumnae are currently serving in elected or appointed office.
Emerge currently has affiliates in 25 states, with a presence in 32 states.
Emerge has trained over 4,000 women to run for office.
“After this year, we want women’s voices to be heard at every decision-making table,” said A’shanti F. Gholar, Political Director at Emerge America. “America’s demographics are rapidly changing, and the current state of politics does nothing to serve our families, our children and our increasingly diverse communities. We are incredibly encouraged by the progress being led by women nationwide and we look forward to continuing this work in 2019 and beyond.”
Emerge alumnae have been among the candidates driving this year’s excitement around the possibility of a Democratic comeback in Congress, state legislatures and in local politics.
More than 30 Emerge alums running in state and federal races have received an endorsement from former President Barack Obama, and dozens more from national political organizations who see their victories as paramount to passing progressive legislation at every level of government.
In Nevada, Emerge alums could make the state legislature majority women only two years after helping to flip both chambers of their General Assembly to Democratic control.
Additionally, more than 30 legislative races where Emerge women are the Democratic candidate have been upgraded to spotlight races by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which means they are running in highly competitive districts that could help the party regain control.
At the federal level, 16 Emerge alums are running for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, including Emerge New Mexico alum, Deb Haaland, who could make history as the first Native American woman in Congress if she wins her race in the 1st Congressional District of New Mexico.
For information on Emerge America and to see the list of candidates who will be on the ballot on election day, please visit our website here.
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