June 2003
The EMILY's List Ten-Year Strategic Plan
Building a progressive America
With Republicans in control of the federal government, the political environment in 2003 is far from what progressives, pro-choice Democratic women in particular, desire. The right wing has seized political power and is implementing its agenda with lightening speed. EMILY's List has developed a political plan to divert this right-wing power grab and restore progressive values to government.
"We won't just sit back and let Republicans wreak havoc," says Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List. "Women have the power to take back government and enact a progressive agenda -- and EMILY's List has a plan to unleash this power by winning every realistic electoral opportunity today and building a strong framework that will ensure future victories."
A redefined mission
In January 2003, EMILY's List initiated a strategic planning process to guide the organization through the next decade. As a result of this exhaustive planning process, EMILY's List recommitted itself to its fundamental mission: electing pro-choice Democratic women to office. However, instead of focusing exclusively on races for the U.S. House, Senate, and governor, EMILY's List will expand to help pro-choice Democratic women running for state and significant local offices.
"We will continue to use our three-prong strategy of raising money for women candidates, helping them build effective campaigns, and mobilizing women voters," Malcolm says. "To break the right wing's hold on government, we must tap into the tremendous political power of women as candidates, contributors, campaign workers, and voters."
Women as candidates
To help women candidates tackle the barriers to getting elected, EMILY's List has built a political program that identifies realistic opportunities for pro-choice Democratic women to run for office.
Every candidate running for House, Senate, or governor is assigned an EMILY's List political "tracker" with a broad range of campaign experience. Trackers help ensure that campaigns meet early priorities -- including hiring staff and consultants and developing a campaign plan -- and consult regularly to ensure that campaigns are meeting their goals. Trackers with expertise in fundraising help campaigns assess finance plans; research trackers help ensure that candidates conduct self- and opposition research and create effective messages.
Noting that in the 2000 election the number of women in state legislatures declined for the first time in 30 years, EMILY's List started working with pro-choice Democratic women running for state and local office during the 2002 cycle. Two political staffers worked full time on this program, recruiting and training candidates and establishing ties with Democratic legislative caucuses and organizations dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women at the state level.
Over the next decade, EMILY's List will expand this Political Opportunity Program to recruit, train, and financially support pro-choice Democratic women candidates for state and important local offices. Political staff will help elected women advance their political careers -- making sure they select worthwhile committee assignments, pursue critical issue priorities, develop communications strategies, form alliances with local advocacy groups, and build grassroots networks that will help them when they seek their next office.
The same tools available to federal candidates will now be available to candidates in critical races in the states. EMILY's List will continue to identify, recruit, train, track, and bundle contributions for candidates for governor, as we have done since 1990. Certain targeted candidates for other state offices will be assigned a political tracker to provide hands-on support.
"While EMILY's List does not plan to bundle contributions from members for women seeking lower office, EMILY's List will raise money for the Opportunity Fund to support state candidates," Malcolm says. EMILY's List will also provide training, technical assistance, and financial support to the growing number of independent organizations working to elect pro-choice Democratic women at the state and local levels.
Through this strategy, EMILY's List will create an equal and powerful presence of women in the states. "We want to help increase the number of women in the Democratic caucuses to 50 percent and elect women to key positions of leadership in state legislatures," Malcolm says.
Women as contributors
The most critical resource in politics is money. "Money enables candidates to get their message out, defend themselves against right-wing attacks, and implement a winning campaign plan," says Malcolm. "Money allows EMILY's List to build a powerful political program that gives women a seat at the table."
The new campaign finance law doubles the amount individuals can contribute to federal candidates from $1,000 to $2,000 per election -- sharpening the advantage for Republicans, who have far more donors at that level. The contributions EMILY's List members give to recommended candidates are even more vital under this new law; in fact, says Malcolm, "these are the most important contributions EMILY's List members can make."
The strategic plan calls for increasing the EMILY's List network to 250,000 members by the 2012 election. To achieve this growth, EMILY's List must invest extensively in reaching out to younger and lower-dollar donors. "We anticipate making significant investments in direct mail, telemarketing, and web-based new member prospecting," Malcolm says. "We will encourage donors to contribute online through www.emilyslist.org and to upgrade to higher levels of EMILY's List membership, including the Majority Council."
Women as voters
Since 1995, EMILY's List WOMEN VOTE! has mobilized tens of millions of women voters nationwide on behalf of Democrats, especially pro-choice Democratic women. Encompassing voter analysis, market research, message delivery, and voter contact, the WOMEN VOTE! project reaches women voters through every available means -- television, radio, direct mail, Internet, and personal contact -- to motivate them to vote.
Over the next decade, EMILY's List will brand WOMEN VOTE! as a credible source of information for women voters, using the media to reach out and show them how voting can make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families. EMILY's List will also work with progressive allies to turn out women voters more efficiently and effectively.
"We will increase our emphasis on ‘touch politics' -- door-to-door canvassing -- to motivate key women voters who tend to ignore or tune out political messages. We will develop strategies to expand the Democratic base, focusing especially on young women voters and Latinas, and create test projects that will bring those who never vote into the electorate," Malcolm says. "And I guarantee you, if women voters turn out in 2004, George W. Bush will be turned out of the White House. EMILY's List is going to make sure that happens."
Women as campaign professionals
EMILY's List training encourages young people to participate in politics; helps spot and cultivate talent for future campaigns; helps pro-choice Democratic women find the most talented staff to work on their campaigns; and ensures that members' candidate contributions are well spent. Alumni of the training program make up a network of savvy political operatives who are building winning campaigns for Democratic men and women across the country.
The ten-year plan calls for significant growth in training for campaign professionals. This includes Campaign Corps, a new EMILY's List project dedicated to giving young people their first break in politics (see "Strong Start for Campaign Corps," page 2). Our comprehensive staff training program will enable EMILY's List to expand the network of professionals who have campaign skills and experience; support state parties and strengthen the political infrastructure in states; and cultivate relationships with up-and-coming professionals who will one day serve in leadership roles.
Winning partnerships
EMILY's List's tremendous growth has put women's emerging political power into sharp focus. As we plan for the next decade, we have the ability and the responsibility to work with allied organizations to build a progressive government. Our members' contributions to pro-choice Democratic women candidates and to EMILY's List can fuel women's campaigns and give EMILY's List the resources to build a political machine par excellence.
In short, by overcoming the barriers to electing women, EMILY's List can build a political force that will shape the future of our country. EMILY's List will recruit and train pro-choice Democratic women candidates at every level; develop a national network of skilled political operatives who will build winning campaigns for Democrats; and mobilize women voters to elect Democratic women and men up and down the ticket, from the school board to the White House.
When women's full political power is unleashed, Malcolm predicts, "women will reject the policies of the Bush Republicans and replace them with policies that create a civil and compassionate society, provide opportunity for all, value diversity and equality, and stimulate responsible economic opportunity in an interconnected world."
Strong start for Campaign Corps
EMILY's List trains 20-somethings for 2003 elections
Over 350 recent college graduates from 40 states and Washington, D.C., applied to become a part of EMILY's List's elite Campaign Corps, a program for young activists who want to elect progressive Democratic candidates.
Campaign Corps is designed to give young people with little to no political experience their first taste of campaign life. Only 30 to 40 people are accepted into each Campaign Corps class, creating a competitive process that helps identify the most promising future activists.
In late July, Campaign Corps workers will come to Washington, D.C., for a week of intensive political training. They'll learn the basics of campaigning -- voter targeting, field organizing, fundraising, and press strategy -- from some of the country's leading Democratic operatives.
Campaign Corps workers will then be sent to targeted campaigns for progressive, pro-choice Democratic candidates, where they'll be an integral part of the campaign team for the critical last three months of the campaign. After election day, Campaign Corps will bring the workers back to D.C. to debrief and help them look for their next job.
Participants receive a stipend and free housing during the campaign, with all travel expenses paid.
Recruiting applicants
EMILY's List formally launched Campaign Corps on May 15, but the process of finding the first class of recruits began in March when Denise Feriozzi, Campaign Corps' recruiter, went on the road to visit college campuses and promote the program. Feriozzi visited 22 college campuses in eight states, including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia.
In addition to working through Democratic and other progressive groups on campus, Feriozzi contacted political science and women's studies departments, career counselors, and local activists -- "anyone who could connect me with young, energetic people," she says -- to arrange her visits. She held informational interviews, promoted Campaign Corps at career fairs and in classes -- she even put up a table at a Rock for Choice concert in Washington, D.C. Campaign Corps made a special push to recruit minority applicants, meeting with representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and with gay and lesbian student organizations.
"Having someone to recruit on campus made a huge difference," says Britt Cocanour, EMILY's List's deputy political director, who oversees Campaign Corps. "Applicants who had personal contact with Denise repeatedly cited her enthusiasm for the program as a motivating factor in their decision to apply." Plans are underway to expand campus recruitment for the next Campaign Corps class.
www.campaigncorps.org
Understanding the importance of the Internet to college students, Campaign Corps created a web site (www.campaigncorps.org) where prospective applicants could learn more about the program and apply.
"Part of our marketing strategy was to develop a web site quickly and make sure it was included in job-seeking search engines," says Cocanour. "In fact, about half of the applicants were recruited online, and everyone applied using the online application."
Training the next generation of activists
Formerly known as Participation 2000, Campaign Corps is part of EMILY's List's growing effort to bring newcomers into politics, which also includes training seminars for women candidates and for professional fundraisers, campaign managers, and field staff.
"Setting young people on a path of political activism is critical to EMILY's List's ten-year strategic plan," says Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List. "Campaign Corps helps candidates win while opening the door wide for young people to start their political careers. We want to cultivate the next generation of political operatives to help elect progressive Democrats across the country, especially pro-choice Democratic women."
For more information about Campaign Corps, visit the web site at www.campaigncorps.org.
What's Cooking?
Political news from Washington and around the country
What would it take to get Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) to walk out on his own fundraiser ... a "no smoking sign," perhaps? According to the Washington Post, DeLay wanted to light up a cigar at a fundraiser for his PAC ... but the restaurant is in a federal building, where smoking is prohibited ... DeLay, aka"The Hammer," allegedly tried to strong-arm the manager into letting him smoke by saying, "I am the federal government"... the manager wouldn't budge, so DeLay walked ... apparently The Hammer thinks that he can violate federal laws, not just make them.
For six years, gay employees at the Department of Justice celebrated Gay Pride Month ... Attorney General John Ashcroft promised to let the tradition continue during his Senate confirmation ... but bowing to pressure from right-wing groups, Ashcroft cancelled this year's event ... this is the man charged with enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws ... Ashcroft reversed his decision to cancel after a media uproar.
Former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin recently met with President Bush's political guru, Karl Rove ... Marin is considering challenging California Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2004 ... Marin's old boss, former Gov. Pete Wilson, is not discouraging speculation he might challenge Boxer ... Wilson angered Hispanics in 1994 when he spearheaded efforts to deny illegal immigrants access to public education and social services ... Wilson's insensitivity remains intact ... commenting on protesters in 2002, Wilson said, "I felt inclined to stop and tell them that this wasn't the unemployment line" ... Marin, who was the highest-ranking Latina in the Bush administration, may find her appeal to Latino voters is limited once they learn that she served as Wilson's liaison to the Hispanic community.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) was selected to give the Democratic response June 7 to President George W. Bush's weekly radio address ... "Eight million families will get nothing from the recent tax bill, but the 184,000 millionaires will have their taxes slashed by $93,000," DeLauro said ... citing the fundamental Democratic principle of helping those in need, DeLauro asked Bush to call upon GOP leaders in Congress to do what's right for every American, not just the wealthiest.
The nation's largest breast cancer foundation has recognized Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski's (Md.) work to "put women's health on the national agenda" ... the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation honored Mikulski with its lifetime achievement award ... Mikulski fought to treat women equally in NIH medical trials ... to set national mammography standards ... to provide coverage for Pap smears and mammograms for low-income women ... and to allow Medicaid coverage for breast and cervical cancer treatment.
At least one Democratic official took Republican threats seriously during the recent Texas redistricting drama ... Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) asked neighboring states, including New Mexico, for help in nabbing runaway Democratic lawmakers ... New Mexico A.G. Patricia Madrid (D) responded immediately ... "I have put out an all-points bulletin for law enforcement to be on the lookout for politicians in favor of health care for the needy and against tax cuts for the wealthy," Madrid said.
The American Life League, which opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest, has launched an ad campaign against Catholic senators who are pro-choice ... the "Deadly Dozen" list includes Sens. Mikulski and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) ... the ads ask Catholic bishops and priests to confront the legislators and ask them to renounce their views on abortion and seek spiritual counseling ... they also have a California "Deadly Dozen" list, which includes U.S. Reps. Loretta and Linda Sanchez, Diane Watson, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Assemblywoman Gloria Negrete McLeod, and state Sen. Deborah Ortiz.
Linda and Loretta Sanchez made history when they became the first sisters to serve together in Congress ... now they've inked a deal to write a book about their life experiences ... both cite their mother Maria as an inspiration ... after immigrating from Mexico, she raised seven kids, then went back to college in her forties and became a teacher.
EMILY was sad to learn that former Michigan Cong. Martha Griffiths passed away ... Griffiths was a pioneer in the early days of the modern women's movement ... she sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, which won congressional approval but was not ratified by two-thirds of the states.
Win today, build for tomorrow
An editorial by Ellen R. Malcolm, President, EMILY's List
EMILY's List is dedicated to creating a political environment that engages and elects women. Because we are almost always trying to bring newcomers into office, we designed our political program to tackle the broad range of barriers facing women candidates.
For example, when the political world viewed supporting women as "risky," EMILY's List created a donor network to bundle millions of dollars for candidates and help them establish credibility. When women candidates had trouble finding staff for their campaigns, EMILY's List created a sophisticated training program to build a network of qualified campaign professionals. Because women voters provide the core support for women and Democratic candidates, EMILY's List developed the WOMEN VOTE! project, a marketing-based strategy to convince women to vote and to vote for Democrats.
As a result, EMILY's List has built a political infrastructure that helps women win campaigns. Our investment in this infrastructure, which began in 1993, has benefited all Democratic candidates, women and men. We share our WOMEN VOTE! research with the Democratic community; we mobilize women voters on behalf of all Democrats; the staff we train work for Democratic women and men throughout their careers.
EMILY's List's strategic plan includes strengthening and expanding this infrastructure to maximize today's opportunities for political victory while simultaneously building for future victories.
Only by making a concerted and long-term investment in developing women's political skills and resources will EMILY's List be able to take back power from the right wing. By increasing the power of women at every level -- as candidates, as voters, as contributors, and as campaign workers -- we can affect public policy and prepare women to seek higher office whenever there is a realistic political opportunity.
Principles of EMILY's List
After re-examining the status of women in politics, the political environment for progressives and the Democratic party, and the factors that will affect the political scene over the next decade, we have developed the following core principles to guide EMILY's List for the next ten years.
- EMILY's List will elect pro-choice Democratic women to office. EMILY's List will build on our three-prong strategy to elect women by raising money for their campaigns, helping them build effective campaigns, and mobilizing women voters.
- EMILY's List will operate with a national identity. Though we will significantly increase our work in the states, we will not create state chapters. Our members have demonstrated their willingness to support realistic political opportunities for women running in states other than their own; we will continue to seek their support for candidates across the country.
- EMILY's List will be opportunity-driven. Well-aware of the significant barriers created by incumbency, EMILY's List will continue to build a political program that looks for promising opportunities and has the resources and resourcefulness to jump on them. We are political venture capitalists.
- EMILY's List will bring newcomers, especially women, into politics as candidates, contributors, campaign professionals, and voters. The political program will make special efforts to bring young people and minorities into politics.
- EMILY's List will utilize the power of women to build a progressive government. We will build effective working relationships with other progressive organizations and the Democratic party, making certain that women play a leading role in putting Democrats in control of our government. Though our mission is to elect women, we appreciate that our political program will also help elect progressive Democratic men.
- EMILY's List will win today and build for tomorrow. Our political program will work for immediate electoral victory, while simultaneously using our resources to prepare for future opportunities and electoral battles.
Candidate Spotlight: Patty Murray
President Bush and his political advisors have been working night and day to find a strong challenger for Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state. Why? Because she's one of Bush's most effective and outspoken critics on Capitol Hill.
- Murray convinced the Senate to take $2 billion from Bush's tax cut to fund the misnamed No Child Left Behind Act when Bush's budget threatened to leave many children behind.
- After learning that the Bush administration planned to cut $28 million earmarked for port security, Murray maneuvered to block a pet Bush nomination until the administration agreed to restore funding.
- She fought to extend unemployment benefits to workers hit hard by the failing economy, add 100,000 new teachers to public classrooms, and expand access to contraception.
- Murray helped draft a law providing $1.6 billion for states to enhance hospital preparedness in case of a biological or chemical attack.
- A tireless advocate for reproductive freedom, she has consistently sponsored legislation to overturn the Defense Department ban on privately funded abortions at overseas military hospitals.
- Murray has been a relentless opponent of Bush's conservative judicial appointees, supporting the Democratic filibusters against Miguel Estrada and Priscilla Owen, and speaking out against their nominations on the Senate floor.