Reverse the Decline!

Cross-posted on the California List Blog. 

As the June 3rd primary approaches, it is vital that we as voters take stock of the tremendous decline in our elected women here in California. In 2008, ten female legislators, 7 Democrats and 3 Republicans, will be lost due to term limits. This could seriously affect our pool of elected women which is already less than 1/3 of the total California legislature.

Living in a progressive state like California we tend to think that we have a large contingent of female elected legislators because over half of our congressional delegation is female and we have two women who are United States Senators. In our state legislature this is not reality. There are 33 women legislators in the California state legislature (27 Democrats and 6 Republicans).

The mission of the CALIFORNIA LIST is to provide financial and strategic support to progressive Democratic women running for seats in the California state government. Women who are committed to core state issues like better public education, access to health care and the search for alternative fuel sources.

Each election cycle, CALIFORNIA LIST endorses Democratic women running in contested primaries and new candidates. Through a committee process we have vetted our endorsed women candidates with personal interviews and a thorough examination of their record of experience to be those who will support the mission of CALIFORNIA LIST, to work with those committed values, and to make changes that will make a difference.

This is a practical way to build the pipeline - and these are the women we should elect to reverse the decline in the number of women legislators in Sacramento. Many of these legislators will also become our next Congressperson, Senator, Speaker of the House or even President. But right now we have to make sure there is a pipeline of women ready to run for higher office.

Help us reverse the decline in women legislators by supporting them with your contributions and your votes!

Carole Migden, Senate District 3
Lois Wolk, Senate District 5
Wilma Chan, Senate District 9
Loni Hancock, Senate District 9
Hannah-Beth Jackson, Senate District 19
Carol Liu, Senate District 21
Fran Pavley, Senate District 23
Mariko Yamada, Assembly District 8
Alyson Huber, Assembly District 10
Nancy Skinner, Assembly District 14
Joan Buchanan, Assembly District 15
Gina Papan, Assembly District 19
Anna Song, Assembly District 22
Fran Florez, Assembly District 30
Laurette Healey, Assembly District 40
Linda Harris-Forster, Assembly District 52
Norma Torres, Assembly District 61

In addition to the candidates listed above, the women we have endorsed over the years run for re-election. Assembly candidates run for re-election every two years. We are proud to have supported the Assemblywomen listed below early in their first campaigns, and ask you to continue supporting them in their re-election campaigns.

Elaine Alquist, Senate District 13
Christine Kehoe, Senate District 39
Noreen Evans, Assembly District 7
Fiona Ma, Assembly District 12
Cathleen Galgiani, Assembly District 17
Mary Hayashi, Assembly District 18
Anna Caballero, Assembly District 28
Julia Brownley, Assembly District 41
Karen Bass, Assembly District 47
Wilmer Amina Carter, Assembly District 62
Lori Saldana, Assembly District 76
Mary Salas, Assembly District 79

We are working hard to help elect our endorsed candidates and we need your support! Please consider giving a donation of $25, $50, $100 or more to at least 2 of the above candidates and help them WIN!Visit our website to send in your donation to CALIFORNIA LIST or donate to any of our endorsed candidates. Our new online system is easy, quick, and secure.

Bettina Duval is the founder of the California List, a political fundraising network that helps elect Democratic women to all branches of California state government.

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