Emerge America is a non-profit national political organization based in San Francisco with the mission to increase the number of Democratic women leaders from diverse backgrounds in public office through recruitment, training and providing a powerful network.[1]

Emerge America
Formation2002
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California
President
A’shanti Gholar
Websitehttps://emergeamerica.org

Background edit

Andrea Dew Steele co-founded the original affiliate, Emerge California,[2] which was formed in 2002. Under Steele's leadership, Emerge was expanded nationwide in 2005.[3] Steele resigned from her position in May 2019.[4]

Emerge America added affiliates in 6 states in its first year and by the 2016 presidential election, it had affiliates in 23 states. The organization's strategy is to have affiliates in all 50 states by 2020.[1][5] Steele says the initial aim is for women to achieve 30% representation for women in government, noting evidence suggests this level passes a critical mass to effectively enact institutional change.[5] Emerge America has had 4,000 graduates, of which more 690 have been elected and are currently serving a political office, as of October 2018.[6]

A’shanti Gholar, the Political Director, said enrollment has increased across the board since the 2016 presidential election, and some classes have seen attendance almost double.[7] Overall, Emerge has seen an 87% increase in the number of applications since the 2016 election.[8] Gholar notes that at the end of 2017, there were 427 women running for a position in the U.S. Congress, compared to 219 women running at the same time in 2015.[7] The organization advised Naquetta Ricks during her successful campaign in 2020 for the Colorado House of Representatives.[9]

Reception edit

Hillary Clinton has praised the group as an organization helping to elect Democrats since the 2016 election by using coaching on public speaking, fundraising, networking, and ethical leadership.[10][11][12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Emerge America". Idealist. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "Andrea Dew Steele". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  3. ^ Kim, Betsy (July 14, 2017). "Female Candidates "Emerge"". New Haven Independent. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  4. ^ Hunt, Swanee; Dew, Andrea (April 21, 2018). "A seismic shift in government is coming, and here's who will drive it". CNN. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Richmond, Riva (November 9, 2017). "Emerge America is Embracing a 50-State Strategy". The Story Exchange. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  6. ^ "About Emerge America". Emerge America. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "LIVE: Emerge America's Gholar on Surge of Women Running For Political Office". GoLocalProv. January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Trump is propelling a record number of women to run for office". Women in the World. November 6, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  9. ^ Guensburg, Carol; Ayoub, Betty (November 15, 2021). "Liberia Native Finds Her Footing as New Colorado Lawmaker". Voice of America.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ Roshell, Starshine (May 4, 2017). "More Women Are Running — For Office". The Independent. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  11. ^ Merica, Dan (May 16, 2017). "Hillary Clinton officially launches 'resistance' outside group". CNN. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  12. ^ Weber, Joseph (May 17, 2017). "Clinton PAC aims to boost left-wing, anti-Trump groups – will she still have clout?". Fox News. Retrieved May 18, 2017.