Emerge New Jersey ‘Relaunches’ Ahead of 2021 Election

Brielle, NJ — On Wednesday, Emerge New Jersey, the state’s premiere organization that recruits,
trains, and builds a network of Democratic women to run for office, held their Virtual Relaunch
Event to renew their commitment to the people of the Garden State. The event,
sponsored by the New Jersey Educators Association, Communication Workers
of America, and Kay Licausi, was well attended by alumnae, supporters, and activists
who are working toward a better future and know that future will be women-led. The event
featured panelists:

● Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts
● Emerge President A’shanti F. Gholar
● Emerge National Boardmember Safanya N. Searcy
● Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake

As well as featured remarks from:
● First Lady Tammy Murphy
● Former Montgomery Mayor and Assembly candidate Sadaf Jaffer.

The Virtual Relaunch Event comes at a time of renewed action for Emerge New Jersey and the
national network. Despite making up 50% of the population, New Jersey women only made up one-third
of all candidates in the 2021 legislative primaries and only hold 27.5% and 32.5% of the
Senate and Assembly seats respectively. That disparity becomes even more dramatic when looking
at LGBTQ+ women and women of color.

“Emerge New Jersey’s Relaunch could not come at a more important time,,” said Geri Jannarone,
Executive Director of Emerge New Jersey. “The 2021 primary may have been a record cycle for women
on the ballot, but the fact that only one third of all

candidates are women is very telling of the work we still need to do. Fortunately, as we saw last
night, people are ready to change that. With a special focus on the New American
Majority we are committed to recruiting Black, Brown, Indgenous, LGBTQ+, unmarried women, and
young women into our sisterhood so that New Jersey’s public offices can finally look like
the people they represent.”

For more information about Emerge and its mission, please contact Emerge New Jersey Executive
Director Geri Jannarone at geri@emergenj.org. A recording of the Virtual Relaunch Event
can be made available upon request.
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