Women have already made up the majority of House recruits early this cycle - and now EMILY's List is taking their own first step toward helping who they believe are among the most promising female candidates.
The pro-choice women's group is announcing today they're placing four women "On The List" for special designation in their campaigns against Republican male members: former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), who became the first Democratic member who lost last cycle to announce a comeback bid; former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack (D), who is exploring a run against Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in a newly-formed congressional district; former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel (D), who is vying to challenge Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.); and Ann McLane Kuster (D), who narrowly missed defeating Rep. Charlie Bass (R-N.H.) even amid a Republican headwind in November.
This new label isn't an endorsement yet from the group, but they are encouraging their more than 900,000 members to begin learning about these women's candidacies and support them financially.
"2012 is shaping up to be a huge year for women candidates. Women across the country are fired up over the extreme anti-woman agenda moving forward in the House and we are seeing women jump into races earlier than ever this year. EMILY's List wants to help them now. 'On the List' provides us with a way to get in faster and introduce our members to these great candidates right away," EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock said in a statement announcing their inaugural class. "Across the country women and men are rejecting the GOP's extreme agenda. They're fired up to take these seats back in 2012. Strong Democratic women are running and EMILY's List has their back." The group will continue to add to their "On The List" slate this year, but won't make full endorsements of any candidates until later in the cycle due to ongoing candidate recruitment and the uncertainty of redistricting in several competitive districts. They won't be bundling donations for these women or lending direct support, but still their designation by the influential group as top tier candidates who deserve early support will likely help their early candidacies in four highly competitive districts. EMILY's List has already designated three of these districts as a top priority for them this cycle, citing top female talent waiting in the wings to take on GOP men. Iowa's new 4th District, where Vilsack announced last week she's exploring a run against King, is a new addition to their target list. The group has also singled out Reps. Bob Dold (R-Ill.), Frank Guinta (R-N.H.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) and Joe Heck (R-Nev.).
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/04/emily-s-list-highlights-four-house-challengers-27
This new label isn't an endorsement yet from the group, but they are encouraging their more than 900,000 members to begin learning about these women's candidacies and support them financially.
"2012 is shaping up to be a huge year for women candidates. Women across the country are fired up over the extreme anti-woman agenda moving forward in the House and we are seeing women jump into races earlier than ever this year. EMILY's List wants to help them now. 'On the List' provides us with a way to get in faster and introduce our members to these great candidates right away," EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock said in a statement announcing their inaugural class. "Across the country women and men are rejecting the GOP's extreme agenda. They're fired up to take these seats back in 2012. Strong Democratic women are running and EMILY's List has their back." The group will continue to add to their "On The List" slate this year, but won't make full endorsements of any candidates until later in the cycle due to ongoing candidate recruitment and the uncertainty of redistricting in several competitive districts. They won't be bundling donations for these women or lending direct support, but still their designation by the influential group as top tier candidates who deserve early support will likely help their early candidacies in four highly competitive districts. EMILY's List has already designated three of these districts as a top priority for them this cycle, citing top female talent waiting in the wings to take on GOP men. Iowa's new 4th District, where Vilsack announced last week she's exploring a run against King, is a new addition to their target list. The group has also singled out Reps. Bob Dold (R-Ill.), Frank Guinta (R-N.H.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) and Joe Heck (R-Nev.).
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/04/emily-s-list-highlights-four-house-challengers-27