Emerge Vermont, the state’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, has 89 women on the ballot in next week’s election running in races from High Bailiff to Congress. These candidates emerged from a successful primary season, with Emerge-trained women celebrating a 96% win rate in August. Democrats are looking to these women to hold Democratic seats, flip seats from red to blue, and provide new representation in the offices in which they’re hoping to serve.
The majority of Emerge Vermont-trained women on the ballot for the Legislature and statewide office are incumbents running for re-election. Six are first-time candidates, with four looking to flip a seat from Republican to Democrat. Several incumbent candidates are fending off Republican challengers. Incumbent High Bailiff candidate Angela Lawrence is running for re-election as the first Black woman to serve in that role in Vermont history. On the statewide level, trailblazing first-time candidate Esther Charlestin recently became the first Black woman in Vermont history to win a major party nomination for Governor, and only the second Black woman in U.S. history to achieve that accomplishment.
“In one week, Emerge alums will show their power on the ballot yet again and prove that when women run, they win,” said Elaine Haney, executive director of Emerge Vermont. “These 89 women have been hitting the campaign trail hard to prove why they are the best candidates for the job. And it’s working. Our alums are resonating with voters, and we’re confident that will bring success at the ballot box. Good luck to all of our alums running and we look forward to seeing the victories Tuesday brings for all of you.”
Of the 89 Emerge Vermont trained women on the ballot, there are:
For a full list of Emerge Vermont trained women on the ballot visit https://vt.emergeamerica.org/history-making-primary-for-emerge-vermont-alums/
Emerge Vermont has a proven track record for getting Democratic women elected. Since the organization launched in 2013, the program has trained more than 250 women to run for office. Prior to the August primary, 54% of alums have gone on to run for political office or been appointed to local boards or commissions, and of those who have gone on to run for an elected position, 39% have won including Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski, Attorney General Charity Clark, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, and Congresswoman Becca Balint.
Nationally, Emerge has trained more than 6,000 alums since 2002 and currently has more than 1,200 alums in elected office across the country and 500+ alums on the ballot this November. The organization is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority over the next 15 years, fostering a lift as you climb culture for women in politics, and repowering political structures. There are currently 27 state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories.