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How old is Georgia’s WIN List and how was it founded?
Georgia’s WIN List was first organized in the fall of 1999 when a core group of Democratic activists came together to talk about a statewide organization to be modeled after the success of EMILY’s List on the national level. The board has expanded in the ensuing years, and the membership and fundraising capabilities of the group have grown. Click here to see a list of our current board members.
As a state, Georgia ranks 26th in electing women to statewide office. We have one Democratic statewide officeholder—Cathy Cox, our Secretary of State. At present, 13 of the 56 Senators are women, with 11 of them Democrats. In the 180 member House, there are 38 women, with 30 of them Democrats. There are women on the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, but those are nonpartisan positions.
How is Georgia’s WIN List different from other statewide pro-choice political action committees or groups?
We have many fine sister organizations who share the goal of protecting choice. The other pro-choice PACs contribute to both men and women—Democrats and a few pro-choice Republicans. Other pro-choice groups, not necessarily PACs, provide advocacy and much valued family planning and medical services. Georgia’s WIN List shares members with all of the existing organizations.
What makes Georgia’s WIN List unique is our focus on supporting women—and only women. While we endorse pro-choice incumbent women facing opposition, the primary focus is on women who are running for open seats or against incumbents—especially Republican incumbents—who do not support reproductive freedom.
Georgia’s WIN List does not “compete” with other organizations who focus on reproductive freedom, rather our missions complement each other and we seek to find ways we can work together.
Is Georgia’s WIN List a one-issue organization?
The mission of Georgia’s WIN List is to change the face of Georgia politics by electing more Democratic women to statewide office and the General Assembly who are committed to reproductive freedom and economic, educational, and legal equality for all women.
Although the first questions on our candidate survey concern choice, we also ask candidates about their positions on child support, mandated joint custody, insurance coverage for a host of “female only” medical conditions, employment discrimination and access to transportation, and good quality childcare for poor and working class women.
Not only does our political action committee write checks to the candidates whom we endorse, but we also recommend that our members do the same. Members choose among the candidates and write their own checks to candidates of their choice.
Is Georgia’s WIN List affiliated with EMILY’s List?
There is no formal affiliation. However, Georgia’s WIN List is modeled after that group and many women who had long been contributors to EMILY’s List were among the “founding mothers” and founding members of Georgia’s WIN List. EMILY’s List was founded in 1985 By Ellen Malcolm and a group of friends armed with rolodexes and the idea that “Early Money Is Like Yeast—It makes the dough rise!”
Nationally, EMILY’s List has helped elect 11 Democratic women senators (nine still serve) and 55 Democratic congresswomen (41 still serve).
EMILY’S List has expanded its program to the state level, having helped elect seven governors and train candidates for legislative seats.
EMILY’s List trainers conducted a workshop for Georgia women candidates and potential candidates in November 2001, with organizational help from Georgia’s WIN List. Ellen Malcolm was keynote speaker for the November 2001 Georgia’s WIN List fundraiser. The two groups continue to have a dialog, especially as the national organization focuses more on state races as a conduit to Congress, the U.S. Senate, and governorships.
Do you endorse candidates for Georgia’s Congressional races?
No. As a matter of policy, Georgia’s WIN List exists to help elect women to statewide office and the Georgia General Assembly. Many of our members do support candidates for congressional seats and races on the city, county, and school district level. Congresswoman Denise Majette was the keynote speaker for the May 12, 2003 WIN List event.
Do you ever endorse a male candidate?
No. Although, many of our members do write individual checks to male candidates, we are founded on the premise of Women In Numbers who are raising money to elect Women In Numbers. Our goal is a net gain in the number of pro-choice women in statewide office and the Georgia General Assembly.
Does Georgia’s WIN List support incumbents?
Although our primary focus is to elect new candidates, or women who are “moving up to higher office,” we recognize the importance of keeping women with experience, strong records, and seniority in the offices where they serve. It is important to continue to have these women serve while at the same time electing “reinforcements.” It is only when there are Women In Numbers in the legislature that more women will begin to find themselves at the table and in the closed-door meetings of the truly powerful who make the crucial decisions. On a national level, this is clearly demonstrated by the election of California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as Democratic Whip. She frequently acknowledges that the number of Democratic congresswomen Emily’s List helped elect was key to her selection for this important leadership post. WIN List knows existing votes for choice are worth protecting.
How do you decide whom to endorse?
First candidates are asked to complete our candidate survey. Then, members of the candidate committee and board interview candidates whose survey answers indicate compatible positions. The board takes the responsibility of spending WIN List money wisely and recommending candidates to the membership very seriously. Our membership places their trust in us for these recommendations, and we value that trust.
Candidates are evaluated on professional experience, community service, presentation skills, their campaign plan and financial resources, their network of support, the demographics of the district, and their commitment to the race. The WIN List board does not feel compelled to endorse in every race that has a woman candidate. Rather, we recommend candidates to the membership based on their viability and strong chances to win.
Why only Democratic women? Why not endorse pro-choice Republican women as well?
While there are women on the national level who are both pro-choice and Republican, the Georgia Republican party leadership, Governor Sonny Perdue, and the Republican leadership in the Georgia Senate absolutely oppose choice. The election of Ralph Reed, the right-wing golden boy who helped organize the Christian Coalition as a national power, to the chairmanship of the Georgia Republican Party in 2001 was a signal that Georgia Republicans had strengthened their resolve to oppose choice and enact more policies that harm women and children. Even after Reed steps down as party chair, the grassroots organization he put in place will remain strong.
Georgia House Minority Whip Earl Ehrhart, the champion of those forces in the house who year after year seek to reduce child support custody awards, serves as a prime example of what the Georgia Republican party sees as “family values.” Another example of this Republican philosophy is the wealthy Savannah businessman Republicans recruited in 2002 to oppose House Judiciary Chairman Tom Bordeaux because Bordeaux fought their efforts to reduce child support payments and to protect choice.
If they had their way, this group of right wing republicans would reverse Roe v. Wade. Their efforts were evident in more than 10 bills offered during the 2003 General Assembly that restrict access to abortion. That’s why it is important to defeat them each time they offer candidates for House and Senate seats.
After years of being one of the lone voices for choice in the Georgia Republican Party, Rep. Kathy Ashe of Atlanta switched to the Democratic Party in 2001. She discussed her switch in a speech to WIN List members in May of 2001. In retaliation, Republicans recruited a candidate to run against Ashe in 2002. Georgia’s WIN List, of course, endorsed Ashe and she won. It is always important to re-elect the pro-choice women currently serving in the House and the Senate.
Is there a chance to be more involved in the work of WIN List?
Absolutely. The work of WIN List is volunteer driven, and all committees are open to members in good standing who will commit to attending regularly scheduled meetings.
How do I become more involved with a campaign?
There are many ways to become involved in political campaigns. It all begins with your phone call to the campaign and the question, “How can I help?” Most campaigns need help with fundraising because money is the fuel of a political machine. But, there are others ways to help—putting up yard signs, going door-to-door, sending out mailings and thank-you notes, staffing a phone bank, driving people to the polls on election day, and accompanying the candidate to events to hand out brochures. Those with specific skills, such as website design, data base management, public relations, or marketing experience can also be valuable advisers to candidates at all levels.
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