By Emily on 11/20/2009 @ 01:16 PM
Tags: Cheryle Robinson Jackson, IL-Sen, US Senate, Reproductive Rights, Stupak-Pitts Amendment
Cheryle Robinson Jackson, our candidate in the IL-Senate race, took a strong stand against the Stupak/Pitts Amendment today. In an email to supporters about her reactions to the House and Senate versions of the bill, she called the amendment "an insidious way to take us back to the dark ages."
"The Stupak-Pitts amendment to the House bill that passed would deny millions of women access to safe, affordable reproductive health care and would especially hurt lower income women. It would even prohibit women from using their own private money for such coverage. Just yesterday, the George Washington University released a study that found that this amendment would end up eliminating ALL abortion coverage eventually – for ALL women."
Cheryle is certainly a leader in the fight to protect reproductive rights -- and with those rights currently under attack, it's clear we need women leaders like Cheryle joining the ranks of our pro-choice Democratic women in Congress.
By Emily on 11/04/2009 @ 01:10 PM
Tags: GOP Opponents, US Senate, Cheryle Robinson Jackson
The Republicans are coming out swinging. They're determined to gain power in Congress next year, so they're eyeing seats across the country to put in the GOP's column.
The one they seem to be coveting the most? President Barack Obama’s Senate seat. As a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times wrote recently, “A win there would plant a flag high on the hill of a hoped-for Republican comeback.”
The frontrunner for the GOP's nomination, five-term Cong. Mark Kirk, has the funding and the party backing to make it to the general election. Fortunately, EMILY’s List candidate Cheryle Robinson Jackson is ready to ensure he doesn't go any farther than that. Robinson Jackson, the first woman president of the Chicago Urban League, is a recognized business and community leader with the experience and compassion to represent Illinois's citizens in Congress.
But Republicans obviously won't give up without a fight. As the Sun-Times noted, Kirk is moving farther to the right to attract the party's base, and he's counting on GOP supporters to build a formidable campaign war chest. Luckily, Robinson Jackson has the power of EMILY's List behind her.
We'll keep you updated as we learn more about the developments in this race -- and Republicans plans for victory in 2010.
By Emily on 10/06/2009 @ 11:08 AM
Tags: Martha Coakley, Cheryle Robinson Jackson, Ann Kirkpatrick, Debbie Stabenow
There's never much down time here at EMILY's List -- and this week has been no different.
We've had candidates (and EMILY's List alums!) in and out of the office, and there have been plenty of events to keep us busy, too.
Check out some photos below about life at the List.
By Emily on 10/05/2009 @ 11:08 AM
Tags: GOP Opponents, Cheryle Robinson Jackson, US Senate, IL-Sen
Everyone needs a mentor...
And it sounds like GOP Illinois Senate candidate Rep. Mark Kirk has found his: Sen. John McCain.
Calling McCain a "personal hero" recently, Kirk revealed that McCain not only offered words of encouragement about Kirk's Senate run, but he also endorsed Kirk, gave him access to his full list of donors (!), and helped him raise $500,000 at a fundraiser. Plus, Politico has reported that one of McCain's former presidential staffers, Steve Schmidt, is now among Kirk's advisory team.
Now, that's a full-service mentor.
Kirk might have McCain in his corner, but EMILY's List candidate Cheryle Robinson Jackson has her own allies -- including 100,000 EMILY's List members across the country. This race is sure to be one of the country's hottest Senate campaigns, and Cheryle has no time to waste to build the resources she'll need to keep this seat in Democratic hands.
By Emily on 09/28/2009 @ 05:53 PM
Tags: Cheryle Robinson Jackson, US Senate, Multimedia, IL-Sen
Recently endorsed Senate candidate Cheryle Robinson Jackson (IL) was in DC last week, and we were fortunate enough to catch her when she stopped by the office. I wanted to share a few quick photos from her visit and say what an incredible senator she's going to make. While Cheryle was at EMILY's List, I sat in on a meeting she had with a number of leaders from women's groups in the area, and everything I'd heard about her empathy and dynamic personality proved true.
Cheryle's definitely the real deal -- a candidate who understands the issues, has the experience and the know-how to get things done, and the compassion to understand truly the struggles facing her constituents.
One thing Cheryle said really struck me. Everything in her career, she said, has had "a common thread: people and change."
What more could you want in the person who will fill President Obama's former Senate seat?
By Emily on 09/17/2009 @ 03:20 PM
Tags: Cheryle Robinson Jackson, Endorsement, IL-Sen, US Senate
More excitement in Illinois!
We just announced that we're throwing our support behind Cheryle Robinson Jackson in what is expected to be one of the hottest races of 2010 – the race to fill the Senate seat that was held by President Obama. Republicans have targeted this seat for takeover and are backing a well-funded, five-term GOP congressman. We know that Cheryle, the first female president of the Chicago Urban League and a pioneering leader and experienced executive is the strongest Democrat to fend off this takeover attempt. Jackson is the only woman and the only African American running for this historic Senate seat. If she wins in November, Jackson would be the only African American in the U.S. Senate.
Here’s what EMILY's List president Ellen R. Malcolm has to say about Cheryle:
"Cheryle Robinson Jackson is a dynamic and charismatic leader who is hands down the best candidate to keep President Obama's former Senate seat in the Democratic column. As the first female president of the Chicago Urban League and after holding high-level positions with Amtrak and National Public Radio, Cheryle is an experienced executive dedicated to fostering economic growth and empowering people across Illinois."
Cheryle will be only the second African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, taking the same seat that Carol Moseley Braun held from 1993-1999. EMILY's List is proud to be a part of this chance to make history. The Democratic primary is only a few months away, and we are ready to go!
Ellen is right – the Illinois's February 2 primary gives Jackson little time to build a statewide campaign. She'll be counting on EMILY's List members to help her win this critical race.
Learn more about Cheryle here.
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