Editing EMILY's List

{{Short description|American political organization}}
{{About|the American organization|the Australian organization|EMILY's List Australia}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = EMILYs List
| image = L-KPgI5z 400x400.jpg
| image_border = 
| size = 
| membership = 
| caption = 
| formation = {{start date and age|1985}}<ref name=founding>{{cite book|last1=O'Connor|first1=Karen|title=Gender and Women's Leadership: A Reference Handbook|date=2010|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=9781452266350|page=152}}<!--|access-date=5 February 2015--></ref>
| founder = [[Ellen Malcolm]]
| purpose = To elect [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] women in favor of [[United States abortion-rights movement|abortion rights]] to political office
| headquarters = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| website = {{URL|emilyslist.org}}
| affiliations = 
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Jessica Mackler
| budget = $61.6 million (2024)<ref name=spending/>
| revenue = $62.5 million (2024)<ref name=spending/>
}}

'''EMILYs List''' is a left-leaning American [[political action committee]] (PAC) that aims to help elect [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] female candidates [[United States abortion-rights movement|in favor of abortion rights]] to office. It was founded by [[Ellen Malcolm]] in 1985.<ref name=npr>{{cite news|last1=Halloran|first1=Liz|title=Mother Of Women's PACs Seeks Younger Supporters|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126393558|access-date=5 February 2015|publisher=NPR|date=April 29, 2010}}</ref> The group's name is an acronym for "Early Money Is Like Yeast". Malcolm commented that "it makes the dough rise".<ref name=npr/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=EMILY's List Mission|url=http://emilyslist.org/who/mission|access-date=2012-02-17|archive-date=2020-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222192204/https://emilyslist.org/who/mission|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=national/>

From 1985 through 2008, EMILYs List raised $240 million for political candidates.<ref name=founding/> EMILYs List spent $27.4 million in 2010, $34 million in 2012, and $44.9 million in 2014.<ref name=spending>{{cite web |title=EMILY's List |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00193433| publisher=[[OpenSecrets]]}}</ref> The organization was on track to raise $60 million for the 2016 election cycle, much of it earmarked for [[Hillary Clinton]], whose [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016|presidential bid]] EMILYs List had endorsed.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blumenthal|first1=Paul|title=EMILY's List Already Raising Big Bucks For Hillary Clinton|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/19/hillary-clinton-emilys-li_n_7623324.html|access-date=20 July 2015|work=Huffington Post|date=June 19, 2015}}</ref>

==History and mission==
[[File:Ellen Malcolm.jpg|thumb|Ellen Malcolm attending an EMILY's List event.]]
EMILYs List was founded in 1985 when 25 women met in the home of [[Ellen Malcolm]]. Founding members included [[Barbara Boxer]], [[Ann Richards]], [[Anne Wexler]], and [[Donna Shalala]].<ref name=national/> In 1986, early financial support from EMILYs List helped elect [[Barbara Mikulski]] of [[Maryland]], the first female Democrat elected to the [[U.S. Senate]] in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband).<ref name=founding/><ref name=pimlott>{{cite book|last1=Pimlott|first1=Jamie Pamelia|title=Women and the Democratic Party: The Evolution of Emily's List|date=2010|publisher=Cambria Press|isbn=9781604976557}}<!--|access-date=5 February 2015--></ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pluta|first1=Rick|title=Raising Dough|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/10/17/raising-dough/|access-date=6 February 2015|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=October 17, 1993}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Malcolm, Ellen|title=When Women Win : EMILYs List and the Rise of Women in American Politics|others=Unger, Craig|year=2016|isbn=978-0-544-44331-0|location=Boston|pages=39|oclc=913923800}}</ref> 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."<ref>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. 68. Print.</ref>

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,<ref>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. 38. Print.
</ref> and they felt that early money could help convince people that their campaigns were credible and would help them raise more money later.<ref name="Malcolm, Ellen 2016">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.</ref>

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''.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/01/sweet_column_hillary_clinton_g.html | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=Sweet column: Hillary Clinton gets key endorsement for 2008 bid | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113193320/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/01/sweet_column_hillary_clinton_g.html | archive-date=2008-01-13 }}</ref> EMILYs List endorsed 31 candidates in 2006, eight of whom were victorious.<ref name=national/>

In 2008, EMILYs List endorsed 22 U.S. House candidates, two U.S. Senate candidates, and three gubernatorial contenders.<ref name=national/> The PAC helped elect two new female senators, [[Kay Hagan]] of North Carolina and [[Jeanne Shaheen]] of New Hampshire, and supported the gubernatorial election of [[Bev Perdue]] of North Carolina, the re-election of Gov. [[Christine Gregoire]] of Washington, and the successful elections of twelve new women to the United States House of Representatives.<ref name=pimlott/>

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."<ref name="Malcolm, Ellen 2016"/>

==Staff==
Ellen Malcolm served as president of EMILYs List from its founding until 2010. [[Stephanie Schriock]] was chosen to succeed Malcolm, who became chairwoman of the board of directors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grow |first=Doug |date=2010-01-06 |title=Franken campaign manager Stephanie Schriock named president of EMILY's List |url=http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2010/01/franken-campaign-manager-stephanie-schriock-named-president-emilys-list/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> Schriock announced she would step down in late 2020, following 11 years at the organization.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=2020-12-10 |title=Longtime Emily’s List head Stephanie Schriock stepping down |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/529685-longtime-emilys-list-head-stephanie-schriock-stepping-down/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref> 

[[Laphonza Butler]] took over as president of EMILYs List in 2021, leaving in October 2023 to fill the remainder of the late [[Dianne Feinstein]]'s U.S. Senate term.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=Governor Gavin Newsom Appoints Laphonza Butler to the U.S. Senate |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/10/01/governor-gavin-newsom-appoints-laphonza-butler-senate/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=California Governor |language=en |quote=With her selection to the Senate, Butler will step down from her role as president of EMILY’s List, where she was the first woman of color and mother to lead the organization.}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Blake |date=2023-10-12 |title=Laphonza Butler has options |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2023/10/12/laphonza-butler-has-options-00121146 |website=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Sophie |date=2024-03-15 |title=Contraception moves into the political spotlight |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/women-rule/2024/03/15/contraception-moves-into-the-political-spotlight-00147295 |website=Politico}}</ref>  

[[Emily Cain]] has served as Executive Director since 2017. [[Amy Dacey]] was the executive director of EMILYs List from 2010 through 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Neff|first1=Blake|title=DNC taps EMILY's List chief as new executive director|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/campaign-committees/188816-dnc-taps-emilys-list-chief-as-new-executive-director/|access-date=5 February 2015|work=The Hill|date=October 31, 2013}}</ref> 

The organization's board of directors includes [[Ellen Malcolm]], Rebecca Haile, Yolanda Caraway, [[Yvette Nicole Brown]], [[Maya Harris]], [[María Teresa Kumar]], [[Wendy Greuel]], Judith Lichtman, and [[Donald Sussman]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Directors|url=https://www.emilyslist.org/bios/c/board|publisher=EMILY's List|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>

==Programs==
{{Progressivism sidebar}}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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Hea|first1=Olivia|title=Event empowers young women to run for office|url=http://timesdelphic.com/2014/02/27/event-empowers-young-women-to-run-for-office|access-date=5 February 2015|publisher=The Times-Delphi|date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

=== ''Women Vote!'' ===
In 1995, EMILYs List began a program called ''Women Vote!''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/women-vote|title=EMILY's List Women Vote! Program|access-date=2018-12-02|archive-date=2020-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203215044/https://www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/women-vote|url-status=dead}}</ref> to promote a higher voter turnout among women. Women Vote! is Emily's List's independent expenditure arm communicating directly with voters.<ref name="national" />

==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 (United States)|Social Security]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/04/progressive-left-s-latest-target-emily-s-list.html |title=Progressive Left's Latest Target: EMILYs List |work=The Daily Beast |date=September 4, 2014 |access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> Democrat [[Marcy Kaptur]] 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.<ref name=national/>

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|Political Action Committee]] or PAC. In Nick Hoffman's article EMILYs List v. FEC<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |jstor = 27895773|title = EMILYs List v. FEC|journal = The Urban Lawyer|volume = 42|issue = 1|pages = 210–212|last1 = Hoffman|first1 = Nick|year = 2010}}</ref> he discusses EMILYs List as a non-profit that has had trouble with the [[Federal Election Commission]] or FEC. Hoffman accuses EMILYs List of arguing with the FEC over how much money should be allowed to be given to [[Political campaign|campaigns]]. EMILYs List has been criticized for pushing the allowance of no limit on how much money can be donated to campaigns.<ref name=":02"/>

==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,"<ref>Life's a Party: Do Political Parties Help or Hinder Women?, p 39</ref> in a 2010 article in the ''Harvard International Review''.

===Presidential===
During the [[2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2008 Democratic presidential primaries]], EMILYs List supported Hillary Clinton over [[Barack Obama]] and bundled $855,518 for Clinton, making the group one of the five largest donors to her 2008 campaign.<ref name=national/> When [[NARAL]] 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 v. Wade|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."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Horowitz |first1=Jason |title=EMILY's List Trashes NARAL for Obama Endorsement |url=http://www.observer.com/2008/emilys-list-trashes-naral-obama-endorsement |access-date=5 February 2015 |publisher=New York Observer |date=May 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529165156/http://www.observer.com/2008/emilys-list-trashes-naral-obama-endorsement |archive-date=May 29, 2010 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Curran|first1=Dan|title=National Organization for Woman Endorses Obama, Snubs Palin|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/17/national-organization-for-woman-endorses-obama-snubs-palin/|access-date=5 February 2015|publisher=CNN|date=September 17, 2008|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222192209/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/17/national-organization-for-woman-endorses-obama-snubs-palin/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/emilys-list-introduces-madam-president|title=EMILYs List introduces "Madam President"|website=www.emilyslist.org|access-date=2015-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103064103/http://www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/emilys-list-introduces-madam-president|archive-date=2015-11-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Accordingly, EMILYs List endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] for president on April 12, 2015 within hours of Clinton forming an exploratory committee to run for president.<ref name=national>{{cite news|last1=Vaida|first1=Bara|last2=Skalka|first2=Jennifer|title=Can EMILY's List Get Its Mojo Back?|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/can-emily-s-list-get-its-mojo-back--20080628|access-date=5 February 2015|work=National Journal|date=June 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205222842/http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/can-emily-s-list-get-its-mojo-back--20080628|archive-date=5 February 2015}}</ref> Madame President came to house the former social media presences of [[Ready for Hillary|Ready for Hillary PAC]] which did grassroots organizing in preparation for [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016|Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/04/03/fans-of-ready-for-hillary-headed-to-emilys-list/|title=Fans of 'Ready For Hillary' Headed to Emily's List|last=Andrews|first=Natalie|date=2015-04-03|website=WSJ Blogs - Washington Wire|access-date=2015-11-07}}</ref>

In the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2020 Democratic presidential primaries]] EMILYs List endorsed Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] the day before [[Super Tuesday]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/emilys-list-endorses-elizabeth-warren-880f3909-33c5-460f-b404-38c3ab641d7b.html|title=Pro-women PAC Emily's List endorses Elizabeth Warren|last=Perano|first=Ursula|website=Axios|date=2 March 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-03}}</ref>

===2012===
In 2012, 80% of the candidates endorsed by EMILYs List in the general election won a seat.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Good|first1=Chris|title=Claire McCaskill, Emily's List Celebrate Women's Wins in 2012|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/claire-mccaskill-emilys-list-celebrate-womens-wins-in-2012/|access-date=5 February 2015|work=ABC News|date=November 14, 2012}}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gold Matea|title=EMILY's List powering Democratic women fundraising totals|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/04/16/emilys-list-powering-democratic-women-fundraising-totals/|access-date=5 February 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=April 16, 2014}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emilyslist.org/|title=EMILYs List|website=www.emilyslist.org|language=en|access-date=2018-11-26}}</ref>

==Similar groups==
Similar groups have formed along the same lines as EMILYs List, with some slight variations. In 1994, [[Joan Kirner]] created a similar organization in [[Australia]] by the name [[EMILY's List Australia]]. Political activist and former school teacher [[Amy Laufer]] founded [[Virginia's List]], a political group supporting Democratic women running for office in [[Virginia]].<ref>[https://wtvr.com/2019/06/11/democratic-primary-in-state-senate-district-17/ WTVR News, Richmond, Virginia, June 11, 2019, retrieved October 6, 2019]</ref>

EMILYs List's conservative counterparts include: [[The Wish List (political organization)|The Wish List]], which supports [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] women in favor of abortion rights; [[Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America]], an [[anti-abortion]] [[Political Action Committee|PAC]] that supports women who oppose abortion;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gardner|first1=Amy|title=Sarah Palin issues a call to action to 'mama grizzlies'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051402271.html|access-date=5 February 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=May 14, 2010}}</ref> and [[Maggie's List]], a PAC founded in Florida in 2010 to "raise awareness and funds to increase the number of conservative women elected to federal public office."<ref>{{cite web|last=Cyphers |first=Karen |url=http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/100659 |title=Jeb Bush to headline Maggie's List event honoring fiscally conservative legislators |publisher=SaintPetersBlog |date=2013-06-10 |access-date=2015-06-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://maggieslist.org/about.php |title=Maggie's List. Women's Political Action Committee. Who we are and what we do |publisher=Maggieslist.org |access-date=2015-06-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707023631/http://www.maggieslist.org/about.php |archive-date=2015-07-07 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==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==
*[http://www.emilyslist.org EMILYs List website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050924094659/http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00193433&Cycle=2004 PAC recipients list]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emily's List}}
[[Category:United States political action committees]]
[[Category:Women's political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Feminist organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1985]]
[[Category:527 organizations]]
[[Category:Abortion-rights organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Progressive organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations for women in politics]]