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North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall moved one step closer to being the state's next U.S. senator, placing first in Tuesday's Democratic primary. The National Organization for Women Political Action Committee enthusiastically endorsed Marshall and worked to ensure her first place spot with strong grassroots support.
The June 22 runoff will determine who faces the Republican nominee in the November election, and NOW calls on the national Democratic Party leaders to rally behind Marshall -- the clear winner, the people's choice. "The party's base must see our national leaders recognizing women candidates as strong, viable winners and support them accordingly. If they continue to recruit and support 'yesterday' centrists, there will be little hope for a 'tomorrow.' NOW calls on President Obama, Tim Kaine and the DNC, and Senator Robert Menendez and the DSCC to rally behind Elaine Marshall and help shepherd her win in November," said NOW President and NOW/PAC Chair Terry O'Neill.
"Elaine Marshall is a champion of women's rights with a long history of support from the North Carolina NOW PAC," asserted O'Neill. "With her strong showing in the primary, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee should have no problem giving Marshall its full support in the runoff. She is the candidate who can win in November, and she is exactly the kind of leader we need more of in the U.S. Senate. With only 17 women in the Senate, Marshall would be a welcome addition and another step toward equal representation."
Marshall is the first woman elected to executive office in the state. She is a strong supporter of Roe v. Wade and has promised to work to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which denies the use of federal funds for most abortions. She is an advocate of equality for all, regardless of race or sexual orientation. Marshall is in favor of equal federal benefits for same-sex couples and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.
The Republican candidate in the upcoming general election, incumbent Sen. Richard Burr, has opposed fair pay for women, voted against banning health insurance companies from using domestic violence as a pre-existing condition and tried to keep women from being treated fairly when they're raped in the workplace.
"NOW/PAC is committed to seeing Elaine Marshall win in the runoff and elected to the Senate in November," said O'Neill. "As someone who faced discrimination herself, Elaine gets it. She will bring a much-needed perspective to Capitol Hill and the determination to improve the lives of women and girls in her home state, across the nation and around the world."
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