EMILY's List history

Barbara Mikulski elected to the United States Senate Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD) — one of EMILY’s List’s first two candidates — became the first Democratic woman elected to the Senate in her own right in 1986.

Ann Richards elected governor of Texas 1990 marked an historic year for women in politics, including the election of Ann Richards as the governor of Texas.

Year of the Woman In 1992, the “Year of the Woman,” EMILY's List helped elect four new women senators and 20 new congresswomen.

When she was sworn in to office in 1993, she also became the first woman to represent Illinois in the Senate.

EMILY's List gears up for 1996 elections In 1996, EMILY's List helped 31 states conduct WOMEN VOTE! projects and targeted 2.7 million women voters.

By 1998 EMILY’s List claimed victory in helping elect to office 3 prochoice Democratic women governors, 7 United States senators, and 49 United States representatives.

Nancy Pelosi becomes first woman Party Leader in Congress In the 2002 elections, EMILY's List helped elect three new Democratic pro-choice women governors and added three new women of color to the United States House.

EMILY's List celebrates 20th anniversary Celebrating our first 20 years of changing the face of power, the EMILY's List community came together in 2005 to share our successes and stories — and to plan our course for the future.

EMILY's List endorses Hillary Clinton for president On January 20, 2007, Hillary Clinton announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee, and EMILY's List made our first presidential endorsement the same day.

EMILY’s List raised money for Clinton’s campaign and turned out millions of women to vote for her in primaries — helping spark a surge of enthusiasm for the 2008 elections.

President Barack Obama names four EMILY's List alumnae to his cabinet In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed four of our alumnae — Hillary Clinton, Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano, and Hilda Solis — to his cabinet.

And EMILY’s List membership has quadrupled since 2010, to over 2,000,000 members.

MPOTUS and Three Million Members In March 2013, EMILY’s List launched the Madam President campaign to shatter the highest glass ceiling in American politics: putting a woman in the White House.

And in 2016, the EMILY’s List community grew to a new record of five million people.

With so many other firsts, 2018 proved to be a sea change for Democratic pro-choice women in politics.