Womens Group Backs Maloney
Rep. Carolyn Maloney"s re-election campaign received the support of influential women"s political group EMILY"s List. The group supports pro-choice, Democratic women for Congress. Its backing provides candidates with a network of donors countrywide, which will be needed for Maloney"s primary challenge from former hedge fund lawyer and Democratic fundraiser Reshma Saujani. The group cited Maloney"s history on women"s rights, including her law that increased funding for law enforcement to process DNA rape kits. â??She has earned a reputation as a tireless supporter for women and families and the protection of a woman"s right to choose, Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY"s list, wrote in the endorsement statement. Maloney sits on a nearly $1.8 million campaign account, but Saujani trounced the nine-term incumbent in her first filing. Saujani raised more than $400,000, more than doubling Maloney"s $186,000 haul. Saujani, an Indian whose family escaped Uganda in the 1970s, received an endorsement from the Indian American Leadership Initiative. The group supports Indian-American progressive Democrats running for office. The district covers the East Side from East 96th to 14th streets, parts of the Lower East Side and western Queens. Meanwhile, Maloney got a shout-out from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her March 12 visit to the United Nations. In her remarks welcoming people, Clinton said she was pleased to be joined by New York elected leaders, â??including Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who has been recognized and who is a great champion of women"s rights and responsibilities.