EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has endorsed Abigail Salisbury for the 34th House District seat in Pennsylvania.

President Laphonza Butler said “The people of Pennsylvania’s 34th House District deserve to have a dedicated and compassionate pro-choice champion representing them in the state legislature, and Abigail Salisbury is that champion. She has shown throughout her career her commitment to uplifting her community, advancing justice and improving lives, and EMILY’s List is proud to endorse her campaign.

“This is a must-win seat for Pennsylvania Democrats to maintain their majority in the state House, and during a time when Pennsylvania Republicans are working hard to roll back our rights and freedoms, Salisbury’s voice will be crucial.”

Butler’s comments touch on the 101-99 majority that Republicans currently hold in the Pennsylvania House. Three special elections are on tap on February 7 to fill those vacancies and it is Democrats are favored in all three.

Salisbury, currently serving her fifth year on Swissvale Borough Council including the past two years as President, is also a small business owner, working as a practicing solo attorney from her office in Swissvale.

A Democrat, she is running against Republican Robert Pagane, a retired police officer from Wilkins Township, for the Commonwealth’s House of Representatives seat vacated by Summer Lee.

Lee was elected to represent Pennsylvania in the newly created 12th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.

The 34th District includes Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood and Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Forest Hills, Braddock and other eastern suburbs. It is heavily Democratic with the party at 73 percent of the nearly 49,000 registered voters.

EMILY’s List works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities.