Let the celebration begin! By my calculation, in just over 24 hours, across the nation and around the globe, I believe we'll hear a collective sigh of relief. George W. Bush is heading back to Texas and Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States of America.
At EMILY's List, we're in the business of expanding the political power of women. In the 2008 election, women made their voices heard and their votes count. Our pro-choice Democratic women won critical races to build the political force that will change the direction of our country. From Gov. Chris Gregoire in Washington state to Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas in Florida to Senator Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, EMILY's List helped our candidates build strong campaigns, raised millions of dollars to support them, and turned out the women voters who formed the foundation of their victories. Our WOMEN VOTE! project turned out the voters that elected Democrats from the state Houses to the White House. Eight million more women than men voted for Barack Obama, building a presidential victory and helping Democratic men and women win across the country.
Today there are 61 Democratic women in the House--more than five times the number when EMILY's List began supporting House candidates in 1988. There are a record 13 Democratic women in the Senate. Every Democratic woman in the history of this country who has been elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right has won with significant help from EMILY's List. This organization has made an historic difference as three-quarters of the women in the House and Senate are now Democrats.
But make no mistake; this is no time to rest on our laurels. For every woman in Congress, there are still more than five men. We are nowhere near a representative democracy that rightfully includes the full participation of half the population. Though we take a few days to celebrate the victories of President-elect Obama and our women in office, our work is far from over.
Our country faces daunting challenges in the near future. How important it is that women have empowered roles in solving those challenges. Women's perspectives, our life experiences, our talents and commitment will make certain that government reflects the needs and values of our diverse society. Women in the states, like Gov. Bev Perdue of North Carolina, will protect women and children from the devastating consequences of recession and budget cuts. Women in Congress, under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will turn progressive values into legislative solutions. Women in the Senate, like Jeanne Shaheen and Kay Hagan, will have a special task, as they cast votes to derail Republican filibusters. And women in the executive branch, like Hillary Clinton, Hilda Solis and Janet Napolitano, will rebuild an effective, responsive government that keeps us safe and makes us proud.
As we start this new phase in American politics, we celebrate our victory and our determination to live in a country of respect, of opportunity, of equality and of peace. In the 2008 election, the American people sent a message to the country and the world. Yes, we can. Yes, we did. And yes, we will rebuild a progressive America using the political power of women.