Lawless endorsed by national women's caucus

WARWICK, RI - Jennifer Lawless, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's second congressional district, announced last week that the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) has endorsed her candidacy.

"I'm extremely excited to have the National Women's Political Caucus on my team," Lawless said in a statement issued from her Warwick campaign office.

"It's an honor to be supported by an organization like the National Women's Political Caucus and to be in the company of leaders like Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Stephanie Herseth," she added.

Llenda Jackson-Leslie, NWPC President, remarked, "The National Women's Political Caucus is enthusiastic about our endorsement of Jennifer Lawless' campaign for Congress. Her victory will give us another vote in Congress to stand up for women's issues - especially on the issue of reproductive rights."

According to the release, the National Women's Political Caucus is a multi-issue, grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women's participation in the political process and achieving equality for all women. NWPC has also endorsed U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Olympia Snowe and U.S. Representatives Stephanie Herseth, Carolyn McCarthy, and Janice Schakowsky.

Currently, Rhode Island ranks 36th out of the 50 states in terms of the percentage of women in state legislature, said the Lawless campaign. Rhode Island does not have a single female statewide officeholder and has not elected a woman to serve in its congressional delegation in 15 years.

"Now is the time to send a woman to Washington," Lawless said.

This article appeared on November 29, 2005, in the Warwick Beacon.