Stephanie Schriock

Stephanie Schriock believes the past 33 years of EMILY’s List have all been leading up to the 2018 election.

“It is all in preparation for this moment where we have this outcry of women who are rising up,” said Schriock, who has led the group since 2010.

Her optimism is rooted in numbers. EMILY’s List has had more than 22,000 women sign up for its Run to Win program, a call to action she made at the Women’s March in January. “It’s a simple challenge: Either you have to run for office, or you have to help a woman run for office.”

That compares to the 920 women who contacted the group last election cycle. “We recognize they are not all running in 2018, but a lot of them are, and for us this is the next decade of women leaders across the country.”

With President Donald Trump in office, the number of women in Congress stuck at roughly 20 percent and the discussion of sexual harassment ongoing across all industries, it could be a moment of soul-searching, but Schriock says the exact opposite has happened.

“The biggest question for us is figuring out the volume and numbers,” she said. EMILY’s List has trained more than 2,000 women this year, providing the basic tools for women to run.

The Montana native is no stranger to tough election environments. She was Montana Sen. Jon Tester’s campaign manager in 2006 and later his chief of staff. And in 2008, Schriock served as Minnesota Sen. Al Franken’s campaign manager.

EMILY’S List’s biggest target in 2018 is the House. “We absolutely believe the majority is in play and with Democratic women leading the way we can get that majority back,” Schriock said. EMILY’s List is supporting women in 47 House races and has been recruiting targets in more than 80 races.

She hopes to build on the group’s success in the 2017 elections in Virginia, Massachusetts, Washington and New Jersey. “I will fully admit I was holding my breath going into Election Day,” Schriock said. There were 55 women on the ballot; more than 30 won. In Virginia, EMILY’S List endorsed 16 candidates. Thirteen won and one race is still in a recount.

So far, EMILY’S List isn’t releasing its fundraising goals. During the 2016 election, Schriock raised and spent $90 million. “We’re on tap to have our best [non-presidential] cycle ever — I would be surprised if we got back to $90 million, but we’re going to try. Those resources, particularly without the presidential, we are really able to put more into these legislative races.”

Beyond campaign contributions, Schriock said EMILY’s List has increased its staff, tripling the size of its state and local staff on the ground. “Some of the early support isn’t so much dollars as it is having an EMILY’s List staff person sitting at your kitchen table helping you find the staff you need. Helping you with the plan. Being the moral support. These races are tough. We’re there to have their back.” — Anna Palmer

Photos by John Shinkle/POLITICO.