Elect Democratic Women Releases Early Endorsements Ahead of Critical Special and Midterm Elections

Candidates represent a diverse group of first-time congressional candidates from across the country

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Elect Democratic Women, the only member-led political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of women in Congress, announced their first round of candidate endorsements for U.S. House of Representatives in three special elections in 2021 and eight midterm elections in 2022.

2021 Special Election Candidates:

1. OH-11: Shontel Brown
2. OH-15: Allison Russo
3. FL-20: Barbara Sharief
   

2022 Candidates:

1. AZ-02: Kirsten Engel 
2. CO-08: Dr. Yadira Caraveo
3. FL-13: Michele Rayner
4. IA-01: Liz Mathis
5. IA-02: Christina Bohannan
6. IL-13: Nikki Budzinski
7. MD-01: Heather Mizeur
8. TX-34: Rochelle Garza

“Elect Democratic Women is proud to support these amazing candidates for Congress. Their campaigns are critical to our holding the House, which is essential to advancing policies that help women across the nation succeed,” said Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), EDW Chair. 

All three endorsed women running in the special elections are elected officials. Russo serves in the Ohio State House, and Brown is a member of the Cuyahoga County Council and chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. Special elections in Ohio’s 11th and 15th congressional districts will be held on November 2, 2021. Sharief is a nurse and Broward County Commissioner. The Democratic Primary for Florida’s 20th congressional district is also on November 2, 2021 with the general election on January 11, 2022. 

The first round of 2022 endorsements includes women from diverse backgrounds running in every region of the country. It includes a former TV anchor, a Latina pediatrician, a Latina community lawyer, the first Black LGBTQ Florida state House member, two college professors, a former labor organizer, and a non-profit founder and CEO. 

“Elect Democratic Women recognizes that better representation in Congress by women, means better legislation supporting women and their families coming from Congress,” said Bettina Weiss, Executive Director. “This group of dynamic women candidates represents the best that our country has to offer: smart, strategic, hard-working women who are fighting to defend and expand women’s rights and protect our democracy.”

Elect Democratic Women was formed in 2018 by Democratic members of Congress with the purpose of electing more Democratic women to Congress, based on the understanding that democracy is best served by a diverse Congress that reflects the people they represent. Chaired by Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), the Board includes Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Assistant Speaker Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA). 

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