Women Winning – whose mission is to encourage, promote and support pro-choice women’s leadership in all political parties and levels of public office – celebrates December primary victories of Susan Allen and Kari Dziedzic.  In heavily Democratic districts, it is likely Allen and Dziedzic will be elected to the legislature following the January 10 special elections.  These anticipated wins come in a long line of wins for Women Winning in 2011.  Out of the six special elections called this year, Women Winning has endorsed in five and is projected to win all five – Carly Melin, Mary Jo McGuire, Chris Eaton and soon Susan Allen and Kari Dziedzic.

“Women Winning is proud to have supported Carly, Mary Jo and Chris, and we can’t wait to elect Susan and Kari to the State Legislature,” said Sarah Taylor-Nanista, Executive Director of Women Winning.  “With the 2010 elections, we saw the numbers of women serving in public office decline at the state level for the first time in over a decade – following these special elections, we will have a net gain of 2 women in the state legislature since last November.  This is the right direction, and we are already working hard to make more gains for women in 2012.”

With these special elections Women Winning focused on candidate development in the early stages of the campaigns assisting with the writing of campaign plans, finding and placing key campaign staff on their candidates’ campaigns, fundraising training, and endorsing convention planning if applicable.  Women Winning also hosted door knocks, phone banks, and fundraisers which raised significant dollars for their candidates during the short special election timeframe.  Women Winning also maxed out in direct contributions to their special election candidates.

Women Winning also endorsed 31 candidates across Minnesota in the 2011 local elections for the offices of school board, city council, mayor, and county commissioner.  Including all local elections and legislative special elections in 2011, 25 out of 36 Women Winning endorsed candidates were elected.  Of the 36 total endorsed candidates, 20 were first time candidates and 15 of those first time candidates were elected.

About Women Winning

Women Winning (formerly Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund) is ready to expand its development operations and recruit and endorse more women candidates in Minnesota in 2012.  Women Winning’s endorsement comes with significant power.  Last year alone, Women Winning raised more than $200,000 in direct contributions to its endorsed candidates and frequently contributes the maximum amount directly to their campaigns.  Moving into the 2012 election cycle, Women Winning is poised to help elect more pro-choice women than ever before.

Women Winning was established in 1982 by 25 non-partisan pro-choice women who wanted to increase the number of women in public office. Twenty-nine years later, Women Winning is the largest and most influential statewide women’s PAC. Since 1982, it has given over one million dollars to nearly 2,000 women’s campaigns through direct contributions and support for candidate training and recruitment. To learn more about Women Winning, go to www.womenwinning.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.