EMILYs List is a left-leaning American
political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee (PAC) is a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. The l ...
(PAC) that aims to help elect
Democratic female candidates
in favor of abortion rights to office. It was founded by
Ellen Malcolm
Ellen R. Malcolm (born February 2, 1947) is an American activist with a long career in American politics, particularly in political fundraising. She founded EMILY's List in 1985 and served as its president until 2010.
Early life
Malcolm's ...
in 1985.
The group's name is an acronym for "Early Money Is Like Yeast". Malcolm commented that "it makes the dough rise".
[ The saying refers to a convention of political fundraising: receiving many donations early in a race helps attract subsequent donors. EMILYs List bundles contributions to the campaigns of Democratic women in favor of abortion rights running in targeted races.][
From 1985 through 2008, EMILYs List raised $240 million for political candidates.][ EMILYs List spent $27.4 million in 2010, $34 million in 2012, and $44.9 million in 2014.] The organization was on track to raise $60 million for the 2016 election cycle, much of it earmarked for Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...
, whose presidential bid EMILYs List had endorsed.
History and mission
EMILYs List was founded in 1985 when 25 women met in the home of Ellen Malcolm
Ellen R. Malcolm (born February 2, 1947) is an American activist with a long career in American politics, particularly in political fundraising. She founded EMILY's List in 1985 and served as its president until 2010.
Early life
Malcolm's ...
. Founding members included Barbara Boxer
Barbara Sue Boxer (née Levy; born November 11, 1940) is a retired American politician, lobbyist, and former reporter who served in the United States Senate, representing California from 1993 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United St ...
, Ann Richards
Dorothy Ann Richards (née Willis; September 1, 1933 – September 13, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 45th governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995. A Democrat, she first came to national attention as the Texas State Treasurer, ...
, Anne Wexler
Anne Levy Wexler (February 10, 1930 – August 7, 2009) was an influential American Democratic political consultant, public policy advisor, and later the first woman to head a leading lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.
Early life and educati ...
, and Donna Shalala
Donna Edna Shalala ( ; born February 14, 1941) is an American politician and academic who served in the Carter and Clinton administrations, as well as in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. Shalala is a recipient of the Preside ...
.[ In 1986, early financial support from EMILYs List helped elect ]Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski ( ; born July 20, 1936) is an American politician and social worker who served as a United States senator from Maryland from 1987 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, she also served i ...
of Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
, the first female Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...
in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband).
The group's mission is to cultivate a donor network to raise money for female Democratic candidates in favor of abortion rights. To become an official EMILYs List member, an individual must pay $100 to join EMILYs List and agree to donate a minimum of $100 each to two U.S. Senate, U.S. House, or gubernatorial candidates. Members donate directly to EMILYs List, which bundles the checks together and forwards them to candidates.
In her book, ''When Women Win: EMILYs List and the Rise of Women in American Politics'', Ellen Malcolm, the organization's founder, stated that "creating progressive policies and promoting them can be incredibly valuable. But those policies will never be implemented unless enough politicians are elected who support them." They focused specifically on women in favor of abortion rights because they felt that "women couldn't be equal until they had control over their bodies."
They focused on raising early money for women because women were not getting money from the Democratic party and thus were generally not winning races even if they were qualified, and they felt that early money could help convince people that their campaigns were credible and would help them raise more money later.[Malcolm, Ellen, and Craig Unger. When Women Win: EMILYs List and the Rise of Women in American Politics. New York City: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. 39. Print.]
For the 2006 election cycle, EMILYs List raised about $46 million for candidates and the group was listed as the biggest PAC in the nation by ''Political Money Line''. EMILYs List endorsed 31 candidates in 2006, eight of whom were victorious.[
In 2008, EMILYs List endorsed 22 U.S. House candidates, two U.S. Senate candidates, and three gubernatorial contenders.][ The PAC helped elect two new female senators, ]Kay Hagan
Janet Kay Hagan (née Ruthven; May 26, 1953 – October 28, 2019) was an American lawyer, banking executive, and politician who served as a United States Senate, United States Senator from North Carolina from 2009 to 2015. A member of the Democr ...
of North Carolina and Jeanne Shaheen
Cynthia Jeanne Shaheen ( ; née Bowers, born January 28, 1947) is an American politician and former educator serving since 2009 as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from New Hampshire. A ...
of New Hampshire, and supported the gubernatorial election of Bev Perdue
Beverly Marlene Eaves Perdue (née Moore; January 14, 1947) is an American businesswoman, politician, and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 73rd governor of North Carolina from 2009 to 2013. She was the first female governor o ...
of North Carolina, the re-election of Gov. Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire (; née O'Grady; born March 24, 1947) is an American attorney and politician who served as the List of governors of Washington, 22nd governor of Washington, from 2005 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), D ...
of Washington, and the successful elections of twelve new women to the United States House of Representatives.[
EMILYs List criteria for picking candidates include staff recommendations, viability, "demographics and history of the district, analysis of opponents or potential opponents, analysis of candidate's education, political experience, etc., demonstrated success at fund-raising, poll data to demonstrate name recognition and grass roots support."]
Staff
Ellen Malcolm served as president of EMILYs List from its founding until 2010. Stephanie Schriock
Stephanie Schriock (born March 18, 1973) is an American political strategist and former president of EMILY's List, a position she served in from 2010 until 2021.
Early life and education
Schriock was born in Mankato, Minnesota, in 1973.(confirm ...
was chosen to succeed Malcolm, who became chairwoman of the board of directors. Schriock announced she would step down in late 2020, following 11 years at the organization.
Laphonza Butler
Laphonza Romanique Butler ( ; born May 11, 1979) is an American labor union official and former politician who served as an interim United States Senate, United States senator from California from 2023 to 2024. Butler began her career as a union ...
took over as president of EMILYs List in 2021, leaving in October 2023 to fill the remainder of the late Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel Feinstein (; June 22, 1933 – September 29, 2023) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from California from 1992 until her death in 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the 38th ...
's U.S. Senate term. Political strategist Jessica Mackler was selected as interim president following Butler's Senate appointment, and her position as fourth president of EMILYs List was made permanent in March 2024.
Emily Cain
Emily Ann Cain (born March 29, 1980) is an American politician from Maine and Executive Director of EMILY's List. A member of the Maine Democratic Party, Democratic Party, Cain served in the Maine Senate from 2012 to 2014, representing the 30th di ...
has served as Executive Director since 2017. Amy Dacey
Amy Dacey is an American Democratic politician. She was the CEO of the Democratic National Committee from January 2014 until her resignation in August 2016.
Early years and education
Amy Dacey graduated from Auburn High School in Cayuga Coun ...
was the executive director of EMILYs List from 2010 through 2013.
The organization's board of directors includes Ellen Malcolm
Ellen R. Malcolm (born February 2, 1947) is an American activist with a long career in American politics, particularly in political fundraising. She founded EMILY's List in 1985 and served as its president until 2010.
Early life
Malcolm's ...
, Rebecca Haile, Yolanda Caraway, Yvette Nicole Brown
Yvette Nicole Brown (born August 12, 1971) is an American actress. She starred as Shirley Bennett on the NBC sitcom ''Community'', as Dani in the 2015 reboot of '' The Odd Couple'' on CBS, and as Dina Rose on the ABC sitcom '' The Mayor''. Br ...
, Maya Harris
Maya Lakshmi Harris (born January 30, 1967) is an American lawyer, public policy advocate, and writer. Harris was one of three senior policy advisors for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign's policy agenda and she also served as chair ...
, María Teresa Kumar
María Teresa Kumar (née María Teresa Petersen; 1974) is a Colombian American political rights activist and President and CEO of the Latino political organization, Voto Latino. Kumar was named by Elle Magazine in 2013 as one of the ten most i ...
, Wendy Greuel
Wendy Jane Greuel (born May 23, 1961) is an American politician. She served as Los Angeles City Controller from 2009 to 2013. Greuel was the second woman elected to citywide office in Los Angeles, after her predecessor Laura Chick.
Previously, ...
, Judith Lichtman, and Donald Sussman
Selwyn Donald Sussman (born June 8, 1946) is an American billionaire hedge fund manager who is the founder and chief investment officer of the Paloma Funds. Sussman has served on the boards of a number of organizations and is a major contributor t ...
.
Programs
The Political Opportunity Program (POP) was established in 2001 to encourage Democratic women in favor of abortion rights to run for state and local office. POP targets its resources toward Democratic women in favor of abortion rights running for state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and local offices.
''Women Vote!''
In 1995, EMILYs List began a program called ''Women Vote!'' to promote a higher voter turnout among women. Women Vote! is Emily's List's independent expenditure arm communicating directly with voters.
Criticism
Critics would like to see EMILYs List expand its definition of "women's issues" to include economic issues like a higher minimum wage and expanded Social Security
Welfare spending is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifically to social insurance ...
. Others have said that the group needs to focus its resources better, staying out of races where there is already an incumbent progressive Democrat and concentrating on other races instead. Democrat Marcy Kaptur
Marcia Carolyn Kaptur ( ; born June 17, 1946) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Ohio's 9th congressional district. Currently in her 22nd term, she has been a member of Congress since 1983.
A member of the Democr ...
criticized EMILYs List for being too narrow in focus by emphasizing abortion rights over other progressive issues, such as the minimum wage, that also affect women.[
EMILYs List in the past has received some criticism for how much money they are accepting and where that money is going to as being a ]Political Action Committee
In the United States, a political action committee (PAC) is a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. The l ...
or PAC. In Nick Hoffman's article EMILYs List v. FEC he discusses EMILYs List as a non-profit that has had trouble with the Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent agency of the United States government that enforces U.S. campaign finance laws and oversees U.S. federal elections. Created in 1974 through amendments to the Federal Election Campaign ...
or FEC. Hoffman accuses EMILYs List of arguing with the FEC over how much money should be allowed to be given to campaigns. EMILYs List has been criticized for pushing the allowance of no limit on how much money can be donated to campaigns.
Endorsements
Endorsed candidates
EMILYs List provides training, recruits women to run, and endorses and funds female political candidates. EMILYs List is listed as an "important source of candidate support," in a 2010 article in the ''Harvard International Review''.
Presidential
During the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, EMILYs List supported Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
and bundled $855,518 for Clinton, making the group one of the five largest donors to her 2008 campaign.[ When ]NARAL
Reproductive Freedom for All, formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America and commonly known as simply NARAL ( ), is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization in the United States that engages in lobbying, political action, and advocacy efforts to oppose rest ...
endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, EMILYs List was strongly critical. EMILYs List President Ellen Malcolm said, "I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton - who held up the nomination of a FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe vs. Wade - to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process. It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them." After the conclusion of the Democratic presidential primaries, EMILYs List moved their support to Barack Obama and was vocal in their opposition to the McCain/Palin ticket.
In 2013, EMILYs List launched its Madam President campaign, saying, "There is a mandate for women's leadership in this country. But we have yet to break through the final glass ceiling and put a woman at the top of the Democratic ticket and into the Presidency."
Accordingly, EMILYs List endorsed Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...
for president on April 12, 2015 within hours of Clinton forming an exploratory committee to run for president. Madame President came to house the former social media presences of Ready for Hillary PAC which did grassroots organizing in preparation for Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy.
In the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries
Presidential primaries and caucuses were organized by the Democratic Party to select delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention to determine the party's nominee for president in the 2020 election. The primaries and caucuses took p ...
EMILYs List endorsed Senator Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Ann Warren (née Herring; born June 22, 1949) is an American politician and former law professor who is the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States senator from the state of Massachusetts, serving since 2013. A mem ...
the day before Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday is the United States presidential primary election day in February or March when the greatest number of U.S. states hold primary elections and caucuses. Approximately one-third of all delegates to the presidential nominatin ...
.
2012
In 2012, 80% of the candidates endorsed by EMILYs List in the general election won a seat.
2014
In the 2014 election cycle, EMILYs List endorsed 24 U.S. House candidates, six U.S. Senate candidates, and six gubernatorial candidates. Of these 40 candidates endorsed by EMILYs List, 42.5% won.
2018
In the 2018 election, EMILYs List endorsed eight women in gubernatorial races, 12 for the U.S. Senate, and 64 candidates for the House of Representatives.
Similar groups
Similar groups have formed along the same lines as EMILYs List, with some slight variations. In 1994, Joan Kirner
Joan Elizabeth Kirner (née Hood; 20 June 1938 – 1 June 2015) was an Australian politician who was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, serving from 1990 to 1992. A Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch), Labor Party member of the Parliament of ...
created a similar organization in Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
by the name EMILY's List Australia
EMILY's List Australia is a political network in Australia that supports progressive Labor Party (ALP) women candidates seeking election to political office. Founded in 1996, EMILY's List Australia was inspired by EMILY's List, a political acti ...
. Political activist and former school teacher Amy Laufer
Amy Josephine Laufer (born May 13) is an American Democrat from Virginia. She was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in the 2023 Virginia House of Delegates election from the Virginia's 55th House District.
Early life
Laufer, one of ei ...
founded Virginia's List, a political group supporting Democratic women running for office in Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
.
EMILYs List's conservative counterparts include: The Wish List, which supports Republican women in favor of abortion rights; Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion
Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its Abortion by country, legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in r ...
PAC
Pac or PAC may refer to:
Aviation
* IATA code PAC Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport in Panama City, Panama
* Pacific Aerospace Corporation, New Zealand, manufacturer of aircraft:
** PAC 750XL
** PAC Cresco
** PAC CT/4
** PA ...
that supports women who oppose abortion; and Maggie's List
Maggie's List is a United States federal political action committee founded in Florida in 2010 to "raise awareness and funds to increase the number of conservative women elected to federal public office". It is named after Margaret Chase Smi ...
, a PAC founded in Florida in 2010 to "raise awareness and funds to increase the number of conservative women elected to federal public office."
References
Further reading
* Cooperman, Rosalyn, and Melody Crowder-Meyer. "Standing on Their Shoulders: Suffragists, Women’s PACs, and Demands for Women’s Representation." ''PS: Political Science & Politics'' 53.3 (2020): 470-473.
* Crowder-Meyer, Melody, and Rosalyn Cooperman. "Can’t buy them love: How party culture among donors contributes to the party gap in women’s representation." ''Journal of Politics'' 80.4 (2018): 1211-1224.
* Manuel, Daniel. "EMILY’s List (Early Money Is Like Yeast)." in ''Women in the American Political System: An Encyclopedia of Women as Voters, Candidates, and Office Holders'' (2018): 127+.
* Ondercin, Heather L. "Who is responsible for the gender gap? The dynamics of men’s and women’s democratic macropartisanship, 1950–2012." ''Political Research Quarterly'' 70.4 (2017): 749-761.
* Pimlott, Jamie. ''Women and the Democratic Party: The Evolution of Emily's List ''(Cambria Press; 2010) 209 pages; the history from 1985 through 2008.
* Abshee, Edward. "Emily's List". (2010)
* O'Dea, S. "From Suffrage to the Senate: America's Political Women". (2019)
External links
EMILYs List website
PAC recipients list
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emily's List
United States political action committees
Women's political advocacy groups in the United States
Feminist organizations in the United States
Organizations established in 1985
527 organizations
Abortion-rights organizations in the United States
Progressive organizations in the United States
1985 establishments in the United States
Organizations for women in politics