Emerge California

Ninetieth in the world: that's where the United States ranks for women in elected office, behind Serbia, China, and Bangladesh . In fact, women make up just 18% of the U.S. Congress. California ranks in the top 20 for state legislatures, however in recent decades, the number of women in the legislature has declined. Although both of California's US Senators are women, only 2 women currently serve in statewide elected office and we have never had a woman serve as governor. A pool of highly qualified Democratic candidates is being left untapped. Too often, women don't see themselves running for office - they don't think they are experienced enough or they just don't know where to start. Emerge California is changing that. Emerge California is part of a national movement to address the under-representation of women in elected office at the local, state, and federal level. There are Emerge affiliates in fourteen states: AZ, CA, CO, KY, ME, MD, MA, NM, NV, NJ, OR, VA, VT, and WI. Visit www.emergeamerica.org to find out more about Emerge America. Emerge CA has a strong record of success: * We have trained over 300 women across the state; * 50% of those women have run for office or been appointed to local and statewide boards or commissions. * Of those who have run, nearly 70% have won their races. * 50% of Emerge graduates are women of color.