Pro-Choice Women's Political Group, Emily's List, Endorses Kathleen Falk

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, and gubernatorial hopeful, on Thursday received an endorsement from a political group dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to office.

The group, Emily’s List, has raised more than $86 million for female candidates since 1985 and has more than 1 million members nationwide, according to the group’s website. Emily’s List President Stephanie Schriock said Falk is the ideal candidate to stand up to the “radical Republican agenda, and get things done in Wisconsin.”

“Our country is at risk of having no female Democratic governors in office at the start of 2013,” Schriock said. “Our states – grappling with economic challenges and at risk of being manipulated by far-right social agenda at the legislative level – need the leadership priorities of pro-choice Democratic women, beginning with Kathleen Falk.”

Just over a week ago, Falk also received an endorsement from the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC). The announcement from WEAC was based on a democratic selection process conducted by teachers and staff across the state.

“We cannot afford to sit back,” said WEAC President Mary Bell. “Our state must focus on jobs, improving education and helping citizens. Kathleen Falk is ready to bring people together to find solutions, instead of tearing people apart as Walker has done.”

Falk was the first Democratic candidate to enter the recall election and is facing state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout for the Democratic nomination. State Sen. Tim Cullen dropped out of the race on Feb. 1.

Falk, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and former U.S. Rep. David Obey top the list of favored challengers, according to a Public Policy Forum poll released in January. The poll has Barrett pegged as the frontrunner to challenge Walker, with results having him leading Falk 46 to 27 percent and Obey 42 to 30 percent in a potential head-to-head race.

However, Mayor Tom Barrett remains undecided whether he will seek a rematch. Barrett isn’t expected to make a decision until the April mayoral election.

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board has not made a final decision on whether a recall will proceed against Walker. The agency is still reviewing the more than one million signatures submitted on recall petitions.