Emerge Kentucky, a non-profit organization established in 2009 to recruit and train Democratic women to run for public office, today announced that twenty-nine women from Emerge Kentucky have filed for elected office this year. 

The twenty-nine women, listed below, include the first Emerge Kentucky graduate to run for federal office, Elisabeth Jensen who is running to represent Kentucky’s 6^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, nine candidates for the General Assembly, as well as women running in county and city elections.

“We began 5 years ago with a mission to increase the number of women in Kentucky elected office, and on Tuesday we witnessed a milestone in that movement,” states Jennifer A. Moore, chair of Emerge Kentucky.  “We are proud of these twenty-nine women who are trained and ready to run and serve our Commonwealth.”

During the 2012 Election Cycle, nine of eleven alumnae won their elections.

Elisabeth Jensen – US Congress, District 6

Kathy Ryan – State Senate, District 12

Ashley Miller – State House, District 32

Debbie Barber – State House, District 36

Gretchen Hunt – State House, District 48

Audrey Haydon – State House, District 50

Donna Crain Drury – State House, District 53

Jacqueline Coleman – State House, District 55

Representative Rita Smart – State House, District 81

Creasa Reed – State House, District 88

Rachel Foster – Daviess County PVA

Anitra Jump – Grant County Judge Executive

Tabatha Clemons – Grant County Clerk

Debbie Donnelly – Hardin County Clerk

Tammy Nesler – Graves County Clerk

Wanda Hammons – Grant County Magistrate, District 2

Chrysanthia Carr-Seals – Fayette County Magistrate, District 3

Bettye Brookfield – Washington County Magistrate, District 5

Natasha Murray – Fayette County Commissioner, District 3

Councilwoman Attica Scott – Louisville Metro Council, District 1

Angela Evans – Fayette Urban County Council, District 6

Amy Beasley – Fayette Urban County Council, District 8

LeTonia Jones – Fayette Urban County Council, District 8

City Councilwoman Beverly Chester-Burton – Shively City Council

Josephine Buckner – Jefferson County District Court, Division 8

Anne Delahanty – Jefferson County District Court, Division 13

Ellie Kerstetter – Jefferson County Family Court, Division 3

Tara Hagerty – Jefferson County Family Court, Division 5

Denise Brown – Jefferson County Family Court, Division 7

Emerge Kentucky offers Democratic women leaders the opportunity for top-notch candidate training and mentoring, giving women the skills, confidence, and network to run effective and successful campaigns.  Emerge Kentucky’s curriculum includes training in public speaking, fundraising, campaign strategy, field operations, labor and endorsements, networking, media skills, messaging, and ethics in politics.  Participants complete seven sessions over a six-month period.   

Emerge Kentucky’s Advisory Board includes the following members:  former Governor Martha Layne Collins, former Auditor Crit Luallen, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, First Lady Jane Beshear, Senator Denise Harper Angel, Former Senator Georgia Davis Powers, Senator Robin Webb, Reps. Leslie Combs, Kelly Flood, Joni Jenkins, Martha Jane King, Mary Lou Marzian, Sannie Overly, Ruth Ann Palumbo, Rita Smart, and Susan Westrom, Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch, Hon. Linda Belcher, Audrey Haynes, Ashley Judd, Carolyn Belcher, Jennifer Chandler, Hon. Teresa Isaac, Hon. Eleanor Jordan, Hon. Pam Miller, Betsy Nowland-Curry, Leah McCormick-Adkins, Lillian Press, Hon. Kathy Stein, Mary Karen Stumbo, Dottie Sims, Lois Combs Weinberg, and Virginia Woodward.

Board members from across Kentucky include:  Jennifer A. Moore, Susanna French, Linda Cowan, Jeanie Embry, Peggy Hendy, Priscilla Johnson, Virginia Johnson, Lindy Karns, Leann Lacy, Caitlin Lally, Linda Marquette, Carole Register, Wanda Mitchell-Smith, Hon. Elaine Walker, and Mary Ellen Wiederwohl.

For information about Emerge Kentucky, contact Elizabeth Sawyer at 502-694-0009 or visit www.Emergeky.org.