Emily's List Endorses Kate Brown

Emily's List, a national pro-choice PAC that supports female candidates has endorsed Kate Brown in the Secretary of State race.

From PolitickerOR:

Giving their powerful endorsement to State Senator Kate Brown in the race for Secretary of State, EMILY's List, a liberal national organization that supports pro-choice women, gave a clear snub to the other woman vying for the SoS seat, State Senator Vicki Walker. The DC fundraising powerhouse just donated $5000 to the Brown campaign and will likely connect her campaign to many national wealthy donors.

Walker's campaign has yet to take off, raising only $21,773 this year with a mere $28,415 in her bank account. This compared to Brown's $174,493 in the bank and State Senator Rick Metsger's $101,867 cash-on-hand. The departure of Brad Avakian from the SoS race appears to send little support to Walker.

More from the press release:

“As the first woman to serve as Oregon State Senate majority leader, Kate Brown has been a role model and trail blazer for women everywhere,” said Jonathan Parker, political director of EMILY’s List. “Her accomplishments as Senate majority leader prove that she will be an effective secretary of state who ensures that every Oregonian’s voice will be heard and every vote will be counted. One of the great success stories of the EMILY’s List Political Opportunity Program, our members are excited and energized to continue their support of Kate Brown and see her become Oregon’s next secretary of state.”

Discuss.

  • (Show?)

    Least shocking news of the day! :) Go Kate Go!

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    Didn't this happen two weeks ago?

    I was talking to Kate on the phone on the 10th or 11th, I think, and she said something to me about a big endorsement "tomorrow" that she couldn't talk about, and I could swear the Emily's List thing came out the next day.

  • Bob (unverified)
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    What's up with EMILY's list kneecapping other qualified pro-choice women in primaries? I'm sure Vicki Walker appreciates the support. /sarcasm

    EMILY's list has transformed into just another arm of the Dem establishment -- whenever I see them take sides in contests with two qualified Democrats, I'm automatically inclined to support whoever they ignore.

  • Gary (unverified)
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    Why, in the last couple months, has $40K been dumped into Kate's campaign from DC.

    First there's the fiasco over the 21st Century Dems (from DC) and their fake endorsement, because they did not allow any other candidates into the process for consideration.

    Then there's the Victory Fund (from DC) that dumped $30K into her campaign, even when every candidate has a 100% voting record on LGBT issues.

    And now this, Emily's List (from DC) chooses one pro-choice woman over another pro-choice woman and a pro-choice man.

    Maybe it's just me, but I am getting tired of watching these groups that are supposed to help elect Democrats over Republicans getting involved in a Democratic primary in Oregon. Then they try to tell me that one is so much better than the others, when I know good and well all the candidates have identical voting records on these issues.

    I really like Kate and think she would be a decent Secretary of State, but I don't like it when people from DC try to manipulate our political system in Oregon.

  • JHL (unverified)
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    And now this, Emily's List (from DC) chooses one pro-choice woman over another pro-choice woman and a pro-choice man.

    Hooray, EMILY's List! You sucessfully defended the forces of Choice against the... um... other forces of Choice.

    Someone please remind me why anyone would give money to EMILY's List in the first place?

  • Katy (unverified)
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    Isn't Emily's list supposed to help pro-choice women who are running for office? I get the beef that they chose Brown over Walker, but they're purpose is to help elect women.

  • Katy (unverified)
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    Ugh, make that "their."

  • Jack Sullivan (unverified)
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    What's up with EMILY's list kneecapping other qualified pro-choice women in primaries? I'm sure Vicki Walker appreciates the support. /sarcasm

    EMILY's List has always made choices in primaries - even when it's one woman over another.

    In 1996, they supported Darlene Hooley in her primary race for Congress over Sharon Scott.

    Getting in early and picking candidates that can win in the general election is the whole point. The E in Emily stands for "Early".

  • LT (unverified)
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    EMILY made the right choice with Darlene in 1996, but do not compare Vicki with Sharon. This is about 2 legislators, not an experience gap like Darlene and Sharon.

    Vicki has my vote for a number of reasons--not the least of which are that she is not from Portland and she is more likely to talk in terms of ordinary folks rather than in terms of professional politicians.

    I know that Early Money Is Like Yeast, it makes the dough rise.

    But remind me again who the heavy Republican candidate is that we need to worry who will win in the general election. I think this was about political connections, pure and simple. Kate sure has those.

  • (Show?)

    Jack, you just said that Vicki Walker can't beat Rick Dancer. Who the heck is Rick Dancer? Vicki Walker beat a highly-funded, popular 2-term mayor in her last race. She is a fighter and a winner. You're wrong to defend this decision.

  • Jason Skelton (unverified)
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    "Vicki has my vote for a number of reasons--not the least of which are that she is not from Portland and she is more likely to talk in terms of ordinary folks rather than in terms of professional politicians."

    There is nothing wrong with being from Portland! Portland is great and so is Kate. I am soooo tired of all the talk about "understanding" rural Oregon. The only thing I understand is that rural Oregonians need to start pulling its own weight because the Portland metro area should not continue to pay for their lifestyle choices.

    Also, Vicki is just as much of a professional politician as Kate or any other multiple term member of the legislature. Vicki is not simple and homespun; she is a pretty sophisticated hardass. And I am confident that the simple ordinary volk you speak of will understand Kate Brown just fine.

  • David McDonald (unverified)
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    Wow Stephanie, you must have some real juice if Kate talks to you. Are you a personal friend of hers or something? I've contacted her through email at least 7 times in the last few years, and never gotten more than an auto reply.

  • Jack Sullivan (unverified)
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    No, I didn't say that Vicki Walker can't defeat Rick Dancer.

    I merely noted that this endorsement must mean that EMILY's List thinks that Kate Brown is a stronger general election candidate - or that she'll make a stronger Secretary of State.

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    David McDonald: Wow Stephanie, you must have some real juice if Kate talks to you.

    Well gee, I must have even more juice then. I talked to Kate, Rick Metsger, and Viki Walker at the

  • (Show?)

    Oh just great. My browser is up to its old tricks with BlueOregon. Looks like I'll have to repost the rest of my comment that somehow got chopped off, using the no-preview trick...

    ...at the Washington County Democrats meeting last night.

    If you actually bother to show up to meet them, you'll quickly discover candidates love to meet people. Emails, not so much.

  • LT (unverified)
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    Jason, do you really think the votes of Multnomah County alone will elect statewide candidates?

    I talked with all the candidates at the local Sec. of State forum sponsored by Polk Dems. Mid Willamette Valley Democrats host forums where anyone who attends can go up to the candidates and talk to them before and after. AND observe whether the answers they give sound intelligent, responsive, more about insider knowledge or about relating to the general public, etc.

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    Wow Stephanie, you must have some real juice if Kate talks to you. Are you a personal friend of hers or something?

    Ha! I am certainly acquainted and friendly with Kate, I like and respect her very much, and I support her, but I would not claim to be her close personal friend. She had called me to ask me to help raise some money for her campaign, if the truth be told -- which I was happy to agree to do.

  • David McDonald (unverified)
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    I tink you hit the nail on the head Steve. Kate and her ilk are very friendly when trying to get elected. It's those times when constituents have concerns and there's nothing to be gained by addressing them that they are not visible or accountable.

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    Bitter much, David?

    Seriously, I go to Washington County Dems meetings to see our State Reps. They tell us what's been going on down in Salem, and usually ask for only one thing - to show up at their town halls, which are typically dominated by Republicans.

    So before you go throwing around wild charges about Democrats and their "ilk" not listening to constituents' concerns, I suggest you get your ilky ass down to a town hall to see for yourself how they handle the typical Republican attack dogs expressing their "concern" about all sorts of stupid crap. So your Democratic rep isn't the only one in the room going "You've got to be joking me".

    But no, Mr. McDonald, your rep isn't going to show up on your doorstep on bended knee, as you seem to think they should.

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