VOTE MAMA ENDORSES EIGHT STATE CANDIDATES

NEW YORK — Vote Mama, the first PAC focused solely on electing Democratic moms, today announced its endorsement of eight state candidates running for election to represent their constituents in the state legislature:

• Catherine Blakespear — California State Senate District 36
• Kyle Evans Gay — Delaware State Senate District 5
• Sherae’a Moore — Delaware House of Representatives District 8
• Rebecca Mitchell — Georgia House of Representatives District 106
• Emma Mammano — New Jersey State Senate District 10
• Allison Eckel — New Jersey General Assembly District 8
• Hope Kaufman — New Jersey General Assembly District 23
• Emma Mulvaney-Stanak — Vermont General Assembly Chittenden 6-2

“I am so excited to support these candidates who are the bold change-makers we need to deliver progressive action at the state level. From action on climate to reproductive care, they are committed to addressing the needs of working families and using the state legislature as a tool for equity and justice. Mothers bring a unique perspective to office, and I am confident that these candidates will lead with the compassion and conviction necessary to create a brighter future for all children,” said Liuba Grechen Shirley, Vote Mama Founder and CEO. 

“I’m so excited to be supported by Vote Mama! As a mom of two kids, everything I do in public office is with their future in mind. As a State Senator, I’ll fight for expanded paid maternity leave, better schools, and climate legislation that protects our planet for future generations,” said Catherine Blakespear, candidate for California State Senate District 36. 

“I first ran for office to highlight issues like childcare and paid leave that affect working parents. I wanted to ensure that moms like me were represented in government, and that our voices were being heard. And I wanted to be able to tell my children that I did everything I could to make their community safe and welcoming for all,” said Senator Kyle Evans Gay, candidate for Delaware State Senate District 5. “Now that I’ve had the privilege to serve, thinking about my children’s futures has challenged me to approach policy with both short-term and long-term challenges in mind. Every day I am more confident that through our work, we are meeting our goal to help families and children across our state. There were plenty of people who doubted that a mom of two kids under four years old could credibly run, but in my estimation, there’s no better preparation for politics! My kids inspire me, but they also require me to be my best every day.”

“Being a mother is what made the impossible become I’M POSSIBLE,” said State Representative Sherae’a Moore, candidate for Delaware House of Representatives District 8. 

“To say serving in a state legislature while having many small children in the middle of a once in a century pandemic is an exercise in multitasking is the art of the undersell,” said State Representative Rebecca Mitchell, candidate for Georgia State House of Representatives District 106. “I am honored to be a policymaker in this moment and hope my voice makes a difference right here for the people who have elected me.”

“I juggle child care/school schedules, running my small business, and keeping our household from falling into economic or literal chaos with my wife every single day. This is a common experience for so many of my constituents, yet it is a voice significantly underrepresented in our state government. It matters to have mothers with young children in our State House providing first hand knowledge of how affordable and high quality child care policy should be structured or how and why we need a meaningful way to close the gender wage gap in our economy. It informs and dramatically improves our policy decisions for the better,” said State Representative Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, candidate for Vermont General Assembly Chittenden 6-2. 

“There has bever been a more urgent time to put mothers in positions of leadership.  Mothers are fiercely protective, and we need that energy right now in order to keep our communities safe from threats like Covid-19, substance abuse, and gun violence.  I am proud to show my children that my love for others doesn’t stop at my front door, but extends out to all those who need help.  A mother’s love is not a finite resource – it can expand wide enough to embrace us all,” said Emma Mammano, candidate for New Jersey State Senate District 10. 

“I run for office to give myself — my focus, my energy, my intention — to my community. As a mom, devoting those parts of myself to my family gave me the tools I need to manage complex competing priorities, to organize around a common goal, and to lead with discipline and resolve,” said Allison Eckel, candidate for New Jersey General Assembly District 8.

“As moms we learn how to be more patient, how to really listen, when to offer our opinion and when not to, we learn to prioritize, multi-task, literally and figuratively clean house, we are advocates and activists for those we love most and most importantly we learn when to compromise and when to hold our ground. Is there any other path that prepares one so aptly for a role in public service? And for each mom out there who asks me, ‘how can I do this?’  I say, ‘you, my friend, do it everyday,’” said Hope Kaufman, candidate for New Jersey General Assembly District 23.

Women, particularly moms of young children, face unique challenges when running for office. Vote Mama seeks to increase the political power of moms by stepping in to disrupt the systems that hold women back through direct financial support, mentorship, and endorsements. As with all of Vote Mama’s endorsed candidates, these eight candidates support family-friendly legislation and are committed to making this country a better place to raise children.

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Vote Mama endorses, funds, and trains Democratic moms running for office up and down the ballot and across the country. Vote Mama is increasing the political power of mothers by providing the tools and training to break down the systemic barriers that hold women and mothers back. Since launching in 2019, over 50 Vote Mama candidates have gone on to win their races.