Updated at 2:35 p.m. – A major political action committee announced Thursday it will throw its support behind Kathleen Matthews in the hotly contested Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District.
EMILY’s List, a PAC that has raised more than $400 million for pro-choice Democratic female candidates since 1985, endorsed Matthews by touting her as “a lifelong advocate for women and families and a dynamic leader who will fight for progressive change in Congress.”
EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock said Matthews “put a spotlight on issues affecting women and families” during her time as a news anchor at WJLA-TV and that she “spearheaded efforts to advance women’s careers and women-owned businesses around the world” as an executive at Marriott International Inc.
The endorsement was expected and could help Matthews increase her fundraising lead.
In the endorsement announcement, Schriock also pointed out that Maryland’s 8th District has never elected a Democratic woman to Congress.
Matthews, a Chevy Chase resident who is married to MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews, is running against state Sen. Jamie Raskin, state Del. Kumar Barve, state Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez, former Obama administration official Will Jawando, former State Department official Joel Rubin and Potomac resident David Anderson for the seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Van Hollen.
Van Hollen is running against Rep. Donna Edwards for Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s soon-to-be-vacant seat. EMILY’s List, which is known for its ability to “bundle” contributions, has already endorsed Edwards in that race.
All of the Democratic candidates in the 8th District race favor abortion rights. But the EMILY’s List endorsement of Matthews speaks perhaps to the prospect of Edwards losing in her bid for Mikulski’s seat.
Depending on the outcome of the race for Edwards’s 4th District seat, a loss by Edwards in the Senate race could leave Maryland with an all-male congressional delegation after the 2016 election.
In the announcement of the endorsement, Matthews praised Mikulski, the first woman that EMILY’s List helped elect in 1986.
“I share their values of putting women and families first and will fight to protect a women’s right to choose, ensure equal pay for equal work, and protect Planned Parenthood funding,” Matthews said.
Raskin's campaign put out a statement responding to the endorsement by pointing to more than 500 women who have formed a "Women for Jamie" group, including many elected officials in the state legislature.
