PODER PAC, Emily’s List, ROSA PAC, Higher Heights, and AAA Action Fund Came Together to Celebrate the Historic Election of Ten Women of Color to Congress

 Politics   Fri, June 30, 2017 07:34 AM

 

Washington, DC – PODER PAC in partnership with EMILY’s List, ROSA PAC, Higher Heights, and the AAA Action Fund joined forces to celebrate the historic election of 10 women of color to the 115th Congress at Charlie Palmer’s Steak House in Washington D.C. on June 27th.

 

The 2016 election led to the highest number of elected women of color and the first Latina elected in the history of the U.S. Senate, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada.

 

“I want to thank PODER PAC for working tirelessly to empower women across the country who are thinking of running for office,” said, Cortez Masto. “I feel incredibly honored to have entered the Senate as part of the most diverse, majority-female freshman class, but sadly there are still only twenty-one women. That is why I am working to ensure that women who are running for office have the resources and guidance they need to run and win. I am grateful to have partners like PODER PAC that are committed to making our local, state and federal government more representative of the people we serve. I will continue to do everything I can to empower our future leaders for generations to come." 

 

“Women of color are a growing demographic in this country and we need to ensure their voices are represented at the Congressional tables of power,” said Ingrid Duran, PODER PAC, Co- Founder and Chair. “This event was historic because we came together as women of color to celebrate our success and also to pledge to work together to elect more women of color to Congress. PODER PAC’s mission is to increase the number of Latinas serving in Congress and

we are laser focused on ensuring we meet that goal in 2018. Latina Democrats currently make up less than 2% of Members serving in the House and 1% in the Senate. Through our partnership with EMILY’s List and CHC BOLD PAC, we will work to identify districts where Latina candidates could potentially run in 2018 to ensure we meet our goal,” said Duran.

 

“We must not stop until Congress looks like the America it was elected to represent.” said, Rep. Linda Sanchez, Vice Chair Democratic Caucus.

 

PODER PAC was founded in 2008 and its mission is to increase the number of Democratic, pro-choice Latinas serving in Congress. Its goal is to double the number currently serving in Congress by 2018. There are eight Latina Democrats currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

 

“This historic event highlighted the growing diversity in Congress and the important role these Congressional women of color play in advocating the needs of communities of color and all the constituents they represent who don’t have a voice at the table in Congress. We need to work hard to ensure that the growing demographic diversity of America is reflective in the halls of Congress,” said Catherine Pino, PODER PAC Co-Founder and Treasurer.

 

Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List added, “We joined our partners to celebrate these dynamic women who made history. EMILY’s List is proud to have supported them and every single Democratic Congresswoman of color. We know that having diversity of voices at the table in Washington makes a difference and ensures we have a government that looks like the face of America.”

CONTACT:
Ingrid Duran PODER PAC Co-Founder & Chair Ingrid@poderpac.com Catherine Pino PODER PAC Co-Founder & Treasurer Catherine@poderpac.com 301 312 6298