For Immediate Release
December 15, 2020
Contact: Melanie V. Ramil; (916) 396-6153
contact@emergeca.org
Sacramento, CA — Emerge California, the premier organization training Democratic self-identified women leaders to run for elected office, today announced their effort to urge Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint a Black woman to replace Vice President-elect Harris in the United States Senate. To view Emerge California’s letter to Governor Newsom, click here.
In November, we celebrated the historic election of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman ever elected to serve as Vice President of the United States. In her role as a United States Senator, Kamala Harris is currently the only Black woman serving in the United States Senate. That means that once Vice President-elect Harris is sworn into office on January 20, 2021, there will be zero Black women serving in the U.S. Senate – a situation that is wholly unacceptable.
“That’s why today, we are saying loudly and clearly: Black women deserve to keep a seat in the U.S. Senate,” said Melanie Ramil, Executive Director of Emerge California. “Our democracy only works if it works for everyone. Now is the time to stand up, speak out, and do all we can to ensure Black women still have a voice in the United States Senate – this is critical now more than ever.”
“At Emerge California, we train Democratic women to run for elected office because representation matters,” said Janice Rocco, Board Chair of Emerge California. “When our elected leaders bring a diversity of perspectives and life experiences to the decision-making table, it means that equity and justice are prioritized and all communities have a voice.”
Emerge California is asking its network of thousands to sign on to the letter urging Governor Newsom to appoint a Black woman to the United States Senate.
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Emerge California is the premier candidate training program for Democratic women who want to run for elected office in California. Founded in 2002, Emerge California has been changing the face of California politics by recruiting and training women to run for public office and win, by providing comprehensive training and access to a powerful network. Our intensive 6-month, 70-hour training is the only one of its kind in the state and includes top-flight instruction on fundraising, field work, communications and more. We offer the training programs in Northern California, Southern California and the Central Valley. Alumnae include Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen, State Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, to name a few. For more information, go to https://ca.emergeamerica.org/.