Six graduates of Emerge Kentucky, a non-profit organization established in 2009 to recruit and train Democratic women to run for public office, were on primary ballots on Tuesday, and all six emerged victorious.

Kentucky House of Representatives:

Wanda Crupper Hammons (Class of 2010), 2nd District - 61%

Kelly Whitaker (Class of 2012), 61st District - 70%  

Louisville Jefferson County Metro Council:

Attica Scott (Class of 2010), 1st District - 49% in a 5-way race Cindi Fowler (Class of 2012), 14th District - 58% in a 5-way race

Covington City Commission:

Michelle Williams (Class of 2011) - 2nd highest vote-getter in 8-way race

Shively City Council:

Beverly Chester Burton (Class of 2012) - Highest vote-getter in 8-way race  

“We could not be more pleased with the Primary results.  This is an incredibly talented group of women. It goes to show what Democratic women can do when they are trained to run successful campaigns,” states Jennifer A. Moore, chair of Emerge Kentucky.

Emerge Kentucky offers Democratic women leaders the opportunity for top-notch political training and mentoring, giving women the skills and confidence to run effective and successful campaigns.  Emerge Kentucky’s curriculum includes training in public speaking, fundraising, campaign strategy, field operations, labor and endorsements, networking, media skills, messaging, and ethics in politics.  Participants complete seven sessions over a six-month period.  As a statewide program, classes are held at various locations around Kentucky including Louisville, Lexington, Northern, Eastern, and Western Kentucky.

Emerge Kentucky’s advisory board includes the following members:  former Governor Martha Layne Collins, former Auditor Crit Luallen, First Lady Jane Beshear, Senator Denise Harper Angel, Former Senator Georgia Davis Powers, Senator Kathy Stein, Senator Robin Webb, Reps. Linda Belcher, Leslie Combs, Kelly Flood, Joni Jenkins, Martha Jane King, Mary Lou Marzian, Sannie Overly, Ruth Ann Palumbo, Rita Smart, and Susan Westrom, Ashley Judd, Carolyn Belcher, Jennifer Chandler, Teresa Isaac, Eleanor Jordan, Betsy Nowland-Curry, Leah McCormick-Adkins, Lillian Press, Mary Karen Stumbo, Dottie Sims, Lois Combs Weinberg, and Virginia Woodward.

Board members from across Kentucky include:  Jennifer A. Moore, Gina Berry, Priscilla Johnson, Virginia Johnson, Kathleen Lape, Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, Wanda Mitchell-Smith, Dwinelva Zackery, Melinda Nimann, Kennita Roy, Linda Scholle Cowan, Loren Wolff, Jacqueline Ellis, Peggy Kennedy, Kathy Groob, Elaine Walker, Linda Marquette, and Lori Flannery.