Emily’s List announced its endorsement of Democratic candidate Christina Hartman’s bid for the 16th Congressional District.
“Christina understands how critical it is that Pennsylvania’s working families have a voice in Washington. She is the daughter of a teacher and a store manager who instilled in her values like hard work, love of community, and the importance of giving back,” Emily’s List president Stephanie Schriock said in a statement.
The 16th district is one of the districts Emily’s List had put “on notice” earlier this year. They are continuing to focus on Planned Parenthood funding, equal pay protections, and abortion for as reasons for their endorsement of Hartman.
“This Lancaster County district is currently represented by first-term incumbent Lloyd Smucker, a man who has sought to throw millions of Americans off their health insurance, defund Planned Parenthood, cut taxes for the ultra-rich at the expense of the middle class, and limit access to reproductive health care for women. The people of the 16th District deserve better, and Christina has the experience and passion to deliver,” Schriock said.
The endorsement will likely help Hartman win over some grassroots activists and donors ahead of petition season and the primary in the district.
Hartman is running against former Warwick school superintendent John George, nonprofit director Jessica King, and Lancaster city resident Richard Griffiths Smith Jr. in the Democratic primary.
3 Responses
Why wouldn’t they simply stay out of the primary when there are two equally qualified pro-choice women in it? Jess King is also running.
Agreed! Could say the same thing about other progressive groups like Our Revolution and Lancaster Stands Up……..Will you say they shouldn’t endorse either? Why not keep all primaries truly open??? Isn’t that what Bernie and the Revolution preached for most of 2016?
Presumably because they have already made investments in building a relationship with Ms. Hartman and building her name ID in the district. In a wave year, as 2018 is shaping up to be, closing a sub-11-point gap is not inconceivable, but it is a lot easier if you don’t have to start from scratch.