EMILYs List is an American political action committee (PAC) that aims to help elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights to office.
[4] 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.
[3] The organization was on track to raise $60 million for the 2016 election cycle, much of it earmarked for Hillary Clinton, whose presidential bid EMILYs List had endorsed.
[1][8] The group's mission is to cultivate a donor network to raise money for female Democratic candidates in favor of abortion rights.
[8] 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.
[16] 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.
[20] 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.
[21] 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.
[24] 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.
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 vs. Wade - to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process.
"[27] 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.
[30] In the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries EMILYs List endorsed Senator Elizabeth Warren the day before Super Tuesday.