Campaign

Rosen to lead Senate Democrats’ efforts to support female candidates

by Tal Axelrod 03/03/21 11:09 AM ET

Senate Democrats’ campaign arm announced Wednesday that Sen. Jacky Rosen (Nev.) will lead its effort to recruit and support female candidates running for the upper chamber.

Rosen is being tapped to chair the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s (DSCC) Women’s Senate Network for the 2022 cycle, during which Democrats will be defending and seeking to expand their narrow 50-50 majority. The body funnels millions of dollars each cycle to support female candidates, with some of that money in 2018 going to Rosen and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), both of whom flipped GOP-held seats, as well as nine other women who won reelection two years ago.

“We need more Democratic women running for office, and we need more Democratic women serving in the Senate,” Rosen said. “Electing more women means having more leaders in our democracy working tirelessly to build an economy and health care system that empowers women.”

“I know from my own race how important the Women’s Senate Network is, and I’m ready to get to work with the DSCC to help ensure we return our fantastic incumbents like Catherine Cortez Masto and Maggie Hassan to the Senate and grow our majority with new women leaders,” she added.

Beyond recruiting more women to run for office, which has become a priority for both parties, Rosen will be charged with defending Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) and Maggie Hassan (N.H.), both of whom are up for reelection next year and are previous chairs of the Women’s Senate Network.

“The Women’s Senate Network has done critical work to elect and re-elect so many of our phenomenal colleagues, and I’m proud to work alongside Jacky as we focus on 2022,” said DSCC chair and Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). “We have an important task ahead of us to protect and expand our majority, and I know Jacky and the Women’s Senate Network will be key partners in this fight.”

The Senate Democratic caucus currently includes 16 women. Besides Cortez Masto and Hassan, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth is also up in 2022, though she is expected to easily win reelection.