Jefferson City, MO – Question: What does a Missouri State Representative and a 14 year old student from rural Illinois, who have never met, have in common?

Answer: Both are directors of the new and improved weblog focusing on state and national issues vital to women, including the GOP War on Women = www.ProgressWomen.com.

Emily Spangler, a young student from Sterling, Illinois, directs the highly successful Twitter account, MoreWomen2012– created in 2011 to connect Democratic women candidates throughout the United States. Many of Emily’s 2,800 followers have assumed the account was sponsored by a national political organization. Very few of her followers knew that MoreWomen2012 was actually produced by a young teenager.

“I discovered MoreWomen2012 a year ago and was overjoyed that a national women’s group was connecting women candidates and activists in a way no one had,” said Rep. Stacey Newman. “I was determined to find out who was managing MoreWomen2012 and amazingly discovered it was a young student from upstate rural Illinois. We immediately became internet friends.”

After the 2012 elections, MoreWomen2012 needed a name change and both Rep. Newman and Emily needed help in managing their social media projects. Having never met in person, they decided to join forces to create a more global communications tool for progressive women.

“I am really thrilled to be working side by side with Rep. Newman as we continue to expose the War on Women and connect progressive women running for office. I’ve learned so much and can’t wait to run for office myself when I’m older,” said Emily, now in high school.

ProgressWomen.com began in 2011 under the helm of Rep. Newman who is the Progressive Caucus chair in the Missouri House. MoreWomen2012 will now be known as ProgressiveWomenUS on Twitter.