For Immediate Release
Jun 22, 2005
EMILY's List Presents 2005 Women's Monitor Report
"Women at the Center of Political Change"
National study shows erosion in Republican support from women and opportunities for Democrats.
EMILY's List asks more than 2000 women ... What are your personal values? What are your political views? Where do the two meet?
Overview Presentation (Microsoft Powerpoint)
Full Women's Monitor Report (PDF)
Washington, DC – A new EMILY's List Women's Monitor report - "Women at the Center of Political Change" – shows that Republicans have failed to hold the support among women that won them the White House in 2004. The national survey of more than 2000 women and 600 men also showed that Democrats need to proactively connect their message to the real personal values of women.
"There is a clear message from the women we spoke to: never stand between a woman and her desire to protect and care for her family," said EMILY's List President Ellen R. Malcolm. "Republicans will continue to lose women if they fail to respect that women see themselves—not government or politicians—as the arbiter of family values. From the intrusion of government into private family decisions, the risk created by efforts to privatize Social Security, and the ‘my way or the highway' foreign policy of the Bush administration -- the Republican's own agenda has worked to turn women away from that party."
In 2004, Republican President George W. Bush won reelection with 53 percent of the popular vote and an estimated 48% of the women's vote. Yet, a scant six months after he began his second term, Bush's ratings among women have fallen and the coalition of women who helped reelect him has pulled back from supporting the Republicans.
"The gender gap is back, and it's growing," said Karen M. White National Political Director for EMILY's List, "One-third of all women who voted for George W. Bush are not planning to vote for a Republican congressional candidate." Democrats are winning the generic Congressional vote by a margin of 40 to 36 percent among all voters, but among women voters, 43 percent say they would vote for the Democratic candidate and only 32 percent would vote Republican.
"Looking ahead to the mid-term elections, this erosion offers a tremendous opportunity for Democrats," said Malcolm. "While women trust Democrats more on a wide array of issues, we want to caution that the Democrats have not closed the deal yet. Democrats must offer an agenda of change and hope framed in a way that recognizes women's focus on the family and their self-identified role as caregivers."
The study shows that the concept of family is at the center of women's values and they see themselves as the primary caregivers in their family life. "There's been a lot of conversation about which is more important to women – values or economic concerns. Our data shows that's a false choice. For women, it's not an either/or decision, said White. "Democrats will not reach women by stressing economics alone."
The full report was released today to the public and EMILY's List will be providing in-depth briefings for progressive organizations and Democratic elected officials across the country in the coming days.
The EMILY's List Women's Monitor is a series of national research projects designed to identify key groups of women voters; determine which issues resonate with them; and track women's voting patterns and the gender gap in presidential and congressional elections – providing valuable insight and guidance for Democrats. EMILY's List shares Monitor findings with progressive allies, Democratic activists and leaders, and national and local reporters, to educate opinion leaders and journalists on the vital role women play in elections and to help focus turnout efforts on key targets.