EMILY’s List, an acronym for “Early Money Is Like Yeast” (it makes the dough rise), is the largest financial resource for women running for elective office. EMILY’s List is a full-service political network dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to federal, state, and local office.
Founding Year: 1985
Permanent function: Electing Pro Choice, Democratic Women
Strategy: EMILY’s List looks for viable political opportunities and recruits strong pro-choice Democratic women candidates to run. We tell our community of members about these women, and ask them to give directly to the campaigns of candidates for House, Senate, and governor. We provide extensive training for candidates and staff so they can make the most of limited resources and win the toughest races. We conduct in-depth, ongoing research into the minds and moods of women voters, a critical bloc for Democrats whose votes are key to electing more women. Finally, our WOMEN VOTE! project reaches out to women voters in the days and weeks before Election Day with persuasive messages that motivate them to go to the polls and cast their ballots for progressive Democrats — because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s When Women Vote, Women Win!
Social Media Strategy: At EMILY’s List, we are constantly using social media to engage and connect with our members, thereby building a greater EMILY’s List online community. This past fall, we challenged our Facebook fans, Twitter followers, and members to help us mobilize voters to the polls leading up to the election. Through the use of technology, we were able to harness the power of our community to reach critical swing voters and help push our pro-choice Democratic women towards victory.
But, it’s not just about moving people on Election Day. At its core, EMILY’s List is an organization powered by and working for progressive women. In the online space, we’re using our social media – our presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, our blog, and our website – to raise awareness of and to strengthen the progressive women’s movement.
Accomplishments: Since its founding in 1985, EMILY’s List has worked to elect 84 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 16 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices. In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY’s List raised more than $38.5 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote.
Activist Advice: Be involved and be proactive. Volunteer on local campaigns and with organizations you believe in. Educate yourself, whether that’s reading the newspaper everyday, following political updates on Twitter, or attending trainings such as the ones we offer through EMILY’s List.
Conservative Counterpart: While Susan B. Anthony’s List’s mission statement is similar to EMILY’s List for the conservative movement, their actions frequently are contradictory to the goal of supporting and empowering women. SBA frequently endorses men, often over qualified female candidates and actively works against women in congress or in state office who do not adhere to their radical and strict anti-choice agenda.
How would you like to see the country change? In ten years, EMILY’s List will have moved us that much closer to true political equality for women, with more women serving in federal, state, and local offices. With this leadership, we’ll see a country focused on true progressive values, including expanding access to opportunities for women and their families and communities. From health care to job creation and training to childcare, we’ll see a country focused on solutions that help all women achieve their potential.
Who we work with: EMILY’s List works with other progressive organizations through our independent expenditure, and is frequently in contact with other organizations within the Beltway. EMILY’s List works very closely with campaigns and their staff depending on the race, providing multifaceted assistance from training to media assistance.
Stephanie Schriock
President,EMILY’s List
Stephanie Schriock came to EMILY’s List in February, 2010, from her position as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) and is widely respected for her role as manager of the closely watched campaign and recount effort of Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota).
Schriock has been at the forefront of some of the most challenging and innovative political campaigns of the past decade. As the National Finance Director for Howard Dean’s 2004 campaign for President, Schriock built and led the team that revolutionized political fundraising. By harnessing the power of the Internet, and through other creative fundraising strategies, the team raised more than $52 million in a Democratic primary, far exceeding previous records.
Throughout her career, Schriock has never forgotten the values instilled in her growing up in the strong labor town of Butte, Montana. Montana has a proud history of electing women to high office, sending Jeannette Rankin to Washington, DC as the first Congresswoman in the nation.
A graduate of Mankato State University, Schriock began her career with the Mary Rieder for Congress (MN-01) campaign. From there she spent time in South Carolina as the Finance Director of the state party, then returned to Minnesota to manage the successful Bill Luther for Congress campaign (MN-06). Schriock’s first statewide campaign was the successful primary run-off David Walters for U.S. Senate campaign in Oklahoma City, OK.
Amy Dacey,
Executive Director, EMILY’s List
Amy Dacey joined EMILY’s List as Executive Director in June, 2010 from the Service Employees International Union, where she served as The Director of Government Relations. Dacey created the department’s strategic plan and managed the Legislative, Policy, Intergovernmental and Executive Branch Outreach Departments of the union.
Dacey served as Senator John Kerry’s National Political Director at Keeping America’s Promise PAC during the 05-06 cycle, as Senator Kerry’s Traveling Political Director on his 2004 presidential campaign, and as a Regional Political Coordinator for the primary campaign, responsible for political structures in 30 states. In the 2002 election cycle, Dacey was the Deputy Political Director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), under the chairmanship of Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash). Dacey is not a newcomer to EMILY’s List. In 2001 she served as EMILY’s List’s State Legislative Program Director, and created a training program to encourage, recruit and train women to run for state legislative office.
Dacey currently serves on the Boards of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and the Unity Fund. Dacey received her Masters in Political Science from the American University in Washington, D.C. and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the State University of New York at Binghamton
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Type of organization: PAC
Contact EMILY’s List
Phone: (202) 326-1400
Fax: (202) 326-1415
