Politico: Hodges Part of National Wave of State and Local Women Candidates

A woman running for mayor of Minneapolis could benefit from an endorsement from EMILY's List, a national Democratic women's organization, according to a story at Politico.com.

Ward 3 City Council Member Betsy Hodges, who represents Southwest Minneapolis and is running for mayor this year, is one potential recipient of EMILY's List support. Another woman in the race is former city council president Jackie Cherryhomes.

The article lists Seattle and Minneapolis as two cities where EMILY's List may wade into mayoral politics. The group has already endorsed women running for mayor in New York, Houston and Los Angeles this year.

EMILY's List endorsements in Minnesota so far appear to have been mostly for state legislatorive candidates. In the 2010 DFL primary campaign for governor, the group chose one female candidate, Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, over another, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner.

Here is Hodges' part of the Politico post:

Minneapolis City Councilwoman Betsy Hodges, who is running to succeed outgoing Democratic Mayor R.T. Rybak, said she senses demand among voters for “a mayor who is making sure to serve the needs of everybody in the city.”

“That includes looking at policies through many lenses, including that of the implications for women,” Hodges said, adding: “In the last few years, women at the national level and on the state level have made some gains but also taken some setbacks. And I think the local level is where people turn to see where the next leadership is coming from.”

EMILY’s List hasn’t yet endorsed in the Minneapolis race, but Hodges said she “absolutely” hopes they do: “It sends a clear signal to women that there is trust in that level of leadership, for and by women.”

Read the full article at Politico.com.

Related:

• SW Minneapolis' City Council Rep Files For Mayor