NEW: EMILY’s List Endorses Martha Coakley in MA Governor’s Race

Thursday, September 19, 2013

GoLocalWorcester Politics Team

EMILY's List, who raised more than $52 million during the 2011-2012 election, will likely prove to be a financial asset for Coakley.

EMILY’s List, a political action committee (PAC) that aims to help elect pro-choice Democratic female candidates to office, today endorsed Attorney General Martha Coakley for governor of Massachusetts. The announcement comes three days after Coakley announced her candidacy.

“Martha Coakley is a trailblazer who has shown an unwavering commitment to serving her community and Massachusetts as a strong advocate and problem solver for nearly three decades,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “She worked tirelessly to protect women and families from abuse by engaging communities in crime prevention efforts as district attorney. As attorney general, Martha fights for taxpayers and consumers and brings the criminals who betray their trust to justice. Martha Coakley will be the kind of bold, pragmatic governor that Massachusetts women and families need, and the EMILY’s List community – now more than two million members strong – is excited to support her campaign.”

The Rest of the Field

The organization's endorsement will likely prove beneficial to boost Coakley's fundraising efforts against a crowded Democratic field which indludes Treasurer Steven Grossman; former Obama Medicare chief Donald Berwick; Wellesley biotech executive Joseph Avellone; national security expert and former columnist Juliette Kayyem; and Cape Cod Sen. Daniel Wolf, who suspended his campaign last month over a conflict-of-interest case that could prohibit him from running.

Other candidates include Republican Charles Baker, who is running for governor for a second time, and former attorney Evan Falchuk, who is running as an Independent.

About EMILY's List

EMILY's List raised more than $52 million during the 2011-2012 election and helped elect an historic number of candidates in 2012 including 19 new women to the House, six Senate incumbents, three new Senators, and 186 state and local officials.

Since its inception in 1985, EMILY’s List has raised over $350 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making it one of the most successful PACs in the country.