When Women Win: EMILY’s List and the Rise of Women in American Politics

“Ellen Malcolm’s fascinating behind-the-scenes journey of women in politics is a must-read, sure to engage.  It’s an important and richly narrated reminder to women of why, 'If you not at the table, you’re on the menu.'”—Jessica Valenti, founder of Feministing.com and author of Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters “It’s no wonder that three quarters of the women in Congress are Democrats.  When Women Win is both a rip-roaring political tale and an inspirational blueprint—with every trade secret revealed—of how and why Democratic women have been on the rise in electoral politics for three decades.”—Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader   "Women had to fight first for the vote, and then for the right to be voted for. No one but no one has been more crucial to this on-going struggle than Ellen Malcolm, and no one has more revealing stories to tell, her own plus those of women candidates in all our diversity.  When Women Win will give you faith that this country might one day become a democracy." —Gloria Steinem “This is the inspiring, fascinating story of the most potent women’s political movement in the modern era—now 3 million members strong, built one woman at a time—that effectively broke up the “old boys club” in American politics and paved the way for the kind of grassroots fundraising that made our government more democratic.”—Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont and Chair of the Democratic National Committee

"Malcolm, the founder of EMILY’s List, delivers a lively, fast-paced history of the influential political action committee that helps elect pro-choice, Democratic women. Drawing on interviews with Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and others, she highlights the organization’s impact on elections over the past 30 years, most notably by giving selected candidates donations early in their campaigns (EMILY is an acronym for “early money is like yeast”). The book covers EMILY’s List’s evolution, since its 1985 founding, from a fund-raising organization to a “multi-pronged, full-service political operation” with three million members that has helped elect 110 Democratic women to the House and 19 to the Senate, including Warren. Malcolm also emphasizes the dramatic effect of Anita Hill’s testimony on the female electorate and the importance of women voters to the Democratic Party. The book shows that EMILY’s List’s biggest contribution may be to make women in Congress seem so familiar that voters are now far more likely to judge women on their records and character than on their gender." —Publishers Weekly "Prose as polished as a campaign speech...narrative of sweeping change for women, coming in the midst of a presidential campaign when one woman in particular could make history.". —Booklist "An inspiring portrait of a gutsy activist who produced a transformation in the political landscape." —Kirkus “Women had to fight first for the vote, and then for the right to be voted for. No one but no one has been more crucial to this on-going struggle than Ellen Malcolm, and no one has more revealing stories to tell, her own plus those of women candidates in all our diversity.  When Women Win will give you faith that this country might one day become a democracy.”  —Gloria Steinem “Ellen Malcolm’s fascinating behind-the-scenes journey of women in politics is a must-read, sure to engage.  It’s an important and richly narrated reminder to women of why, 'If you not at the table, you’re on the menu.'” —Jessica Valenti, founder of Feministing.com and author of Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters “It’s no wonder that three quarters of the women in Congress are Democrats.  When Women Win is both a rip-roaring political tale and an inspirational blueprint—with every trade secret revealed—of how and why Democratic women have been on the rise in electoral politics for three decades.” —Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader “This is the inspiring, fascinating story of the most potent women’s political movement in the modern era—now 3 million members strong, built one woman at a time—that effectively broke up the “old boys club” in American politics and paved the way for the kind of grassroots fundraising that made our government more democratic.” —Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont and Chair of the Democratic National Committee

"Malcolm, the founder of EMILY’s List, delivers a lively, fast-paced history of the influential political action committee that helps elect pro-choice, Democratic women. Drawing on interviews with Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and others, she highlights the organization’s impact on elections over the past 30 years, most notably by giving selected candidates donations early in their campaigns (EMILY is an acronym for “early money is like yeast”). The book covers EMILY’s List’s evolution, since its 1985 founding, from a fund-raising organization to a “multi-pronged, full-service political operation” with three million members that has helped elect 110 Democratic women to the House and 19 to the Senate, including Warren. Malcolm also emphasizes the dramatic effect of Anita Hill’s testimony on the female electorate and the importance of women voters to the Democratic Party. The book shows that EMILY’s List’s biggest contribution may be to make women in Congress seem so familiar that voters are now far more likely to judge women on their records and character than on their gender." —Publishers Weekly "Prose as polished as a campaign speech...narrative of sweeping change for women, coming in the midst of a presidential campaign when one woman in particular could make history.". —Booklist "An inspiring portrait of a gutsy activist who produced a transformation in the political landscape." —Kirkus “Women had to fight first for the vote, and then for the right to be voted for. No one but no one has been more crucial to this on-going struggle than Ellen Malcolm, and no one has more revealing stories to tell, her own plus those of women candidates in all our diversity.  When Women Win will give you faith that this country might one day become a democracy.”  —Gloria Steinem “Ellen Malcolm’s fascinating behind-the-scenes journey of women in politics is a must-read, sure to engage.  It’s an important and richly narrated reminder to women of why, 'If you not at the table, you’re on the menu.'” —Jessica Valenti, founder of Feministing.com and author of Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters “It’s no wonder that three quarters of the women in Congress are Democrats.  When Women Win is both a rip-roaring political tale and an inspirational blueprint—with every trade secret revealed—of how and why Democratic women have been on the rise in electoral politics for three decades.” —Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader “This is the inspiring, fascinating story of the most potent women’s political movement in the modern era—now 3 million members strong, built one woman at a time—that effectively broke up the “old boys club” in American politics and paved the way for the kind of grassroots fundraising that made our government more democratic.” —Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont and Chair of the Democratic National Committee

Praise for Craig Unger’s BOSS ROVE: “Unger succeeds in...detailing the business interests and personal friendships that evolved between the Bush family’s inner circle and the Saudi elite...[He] does an admirable job revealing how extensively the Bushes parlayed family connections into wealth and power...Impressive.” —The New York Times “Cautious and elemental...As chilling as it is gripping.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Should be mandatory reading for every member of any 9/11 investigation panel....[I]ntensely researched and well-documented...illuminating, disturbing...skillfully packaged...meticulously referenced.” —Fort Worth Star-Telegram “Unger fruitfully probes the ambiguous—and fatally compromised—Saudi-American relationship spanning two decades...It’s must reading for anyone who wishes to understand the origins of 9/11 and America’s precarious position in the world today.” —The New York Observer Praise for Craig Unger’s HOUSE OF BUSH, HOUSE OF SAUD: “[An] explosive work of journalism.” —The New York Times “explosive...intensely researched, well-written.” —Publisher’s Weekly “Craig Unger has done America and the world a huge favor by clearly and precisely documenting how the Bush inner circle is in the very deep pockets of the brutal Saudi dictators.” —Michael Moore, Director of Fahrenheit 9/11

"Prose as polished as a campaign speech...narrative of sweeping change for women, coming in the midst of a presidential campaign when one woman in particular could make history.". —Booklist "An inspiring portrait of a gutsy activist who produced a transformation in the political landscape." —Kirkus “Women had to fight first for the vote, and then for the right to be voted for. No one but no one has been more crucial to this on-going struggle than Ellen Malcolm, and no one has more revealing stories to tell, her own plus those of women candidates in all our diversity.  When Women Win will give you faith that this country might one day become a democracy.”  —Gloria Steinem “Ellen Malcolm’s fascinating behind-the-scenes journey of women in politics is a must-read, sure to engage.  It’s an important and richly narrated reminder to women of why, 'If you not at the table, you’re on the menu.'” —Jessica Valenti, founder of Feministing.com and author of Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters “It’s no wonder that three quarters of the women in Congress are Democrats.  When Women Win is both a rip-roaring political tale and an inspirational blueprint—with every trade secret revealed—of how and why Democratic women have been on the rise in electoral politics for three decades.” —Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader “This is the inspiring, fascinating story of the most potent women’s political movement in the modern era—now 3 million members strong, built one woman at a time—that effectively broke up the “old boys club” in American politics and paved the way for the kind of grassroots fundraising that made our government more democratic.” —Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont and Chair of the Democratic National Committee

“It’s no wonder that three quarters of the women in Congress are Democrats.  When Women Win is both a rip-roaring political tale and an inspirational blueprint—with every trade secret revealed—of how and why Democratic women have been on the rise in electoral politics for three decades.” —Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader   "Women had to fight first for the vote, and then for the right to be voted for. No one but no one has been more crucial to this on-going struggle than Ellen Malcolm, and no one has more revealing stories to tell, her own plus those of women candidates in all our diversity.  When Women Win will give you faith that this country might one day become a democracy." —Gloria Steinem “This is the inspiring, fascinating story of the most potent women’s political movement in the modern era—now 3 million members strong, built one woman at a time—that effectively broke up the “old boys club” in American politics and paved the way for the kind of grassroots fundraising that made our government more democratic.” —Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont and Chair of the Democratic National Committee

“Women had to fight first for the vote, and then for the right to be voted for. No one but no one has been more crucial to this on-going struggle than Ellen Malcolm, and no one has more revealing stories to tell, her own plus those of women candidates in all our diversity.  When Women Win will give you faith that this country might one day become a democracy.”  —Gloria Steinem “Ellen Malcolm’s fascinating behind-the-scenes journey of women in politics is a must-read, sure to engage.  It’s an important and richly narrated reminder to women of why, 'If you not at the table, you’re on the menu.'” —Jessica Valenti, founder of Feministing.com and author of Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters “It’s no wonder that three quarters of the women in Congress are Democrats.  When Women Win is both a rip-roaring political tale and an inspirational blueprint—with every trade secret revealed—of how and why Democratic women have been on the rise in electoral politics for three decades.” —Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader “This is the inspiring, fascinating story of the most potent women’s political movement in the modern era—now 3 million members strong, built one woman at a time—that effectively broke up the “old boys club” in American politics and paved the way for the kind of grassroots fundraising that made our government more democratic.” —Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont and Chair of the Democratic National Committee

"Superwoman Ellen R. Malcolm, with Craig Unger, heroically continues to beat the drum for female equality in When Women Win." —Vanity Fair "Malcolm, the founder of EMILY’s List, delivers a lively, fast-paced history of the influential political action committee that helps elect pro-choice, Democratic women. Drawing on interviews with Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and others, she highlights the organization’s impact on elections over the past 30 years, most notably by giving selected candidates donations early in their campaigns (EMILY is an acronym for “early money is like yeast”). The book covers EMILY’s List’s evolution, since its 1985 founding, from a fund-raising organization to a “multi-pronged, full-service political operation” with three million members that has helped elect 110 Democratic women to the House and 19 to the Senate, including Warren. Malcolm also emphasizes the dramatic effect of Anita Hill’s testimony on the female electorate and the importance of women voters to the Democratic Party. The book shows that EMILY’s List’s biggest contribution may be to make women in Congress seem so famili...