by Kathy Groob, Publisher ElectWomen Magazine

Yesterday a new organization dedicated to electing progressive Democratic women to the state legislature and state-wide office was born.  Harriett’s List, founded after the former Missouri Lt. Governor Harriett Woods, was formally launched Tuesday at a ceremony at University City, Missouri. 

“To continue Harriett’s legacy of putting women in power, HARRIETT’S LIST  is modeled after the national organization, Emily’s List, which was spawned by  Harriett’s close U. S. Senate bid in 1982,” said the organization’s new Executive Director, Stacey Newman.  “The mission of HARRIETT’S LIST is to increase the numbers of progressive Democratic women in the Missouri state legislature and state-wide office.”

 The announcement comes on what would have been Harriett Woods’ 82nd birthday. Harriett’s son, Andy Woods along with her granddaughter Reina Woods, State

Sen. Rita Days and State Sen. Joan Bray formally announced the launch of Harriett’s List at a press conference at University City, next to the Harriett Woods Civic Plaza.

University City is where Harriett began her long political career with her 1962 election as a city councilwoman.  She then went on to serve in the state senate before running for the United States Senate in 1982.  In 1984, Harriett Woods was elected as the first female Lt. Governor and first woman to win a statewide race.  She ran again for the U.S. Senate in 1986 but was defeated. 

Besides being Missouri’s first woman elected to statewide office, Harriett was known nationwide as a prominent spokeswoman during the 1991 Clarence Thomas Senate hearings.  She also served as the president of the National Women’s Political Caucus helping to elect a record number of women to federal office in 1992.  Harriett Woods died in February, 2007.

HARRIETT’S LIST joins with ten other LIST groups, including Annie’s List of Texas and Lillians’ List of North Carolina – both wildly successful in raising money and electing progressive women to office.

For more information, visit the organization’s new website at: http://harriettslist.com.