Elections

Rep. Stefanik Announces New Round Of Endorsements For Female Republicans

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Michael Ginsberg Congressional Correspondent
Font Size:

House Republican Conference chairwoman and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik will announce 10 new endorsements through her political action committee Elevate PAC (E-PAC) on Tuesday.

The list of 10 candidates includes former Trump State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, who is running to replace retiring Democratic Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper, as well as former Ted Cruz aide Cassy Garcia. Stefanik announced endorsements for eight Republican women in November, including her former communications director Karoline Leavitt, who is running in a crowded primary to face off against Democratic New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas. (RELATED: Rep. Stefanik Endorses Jane Timken In Crowded Ohio Senate Race)

Endorsed candidates gain access to Stefanik’s small-dollar donor list and communications advice from advisers and will have the opportunity to appear with Stefanik at events.

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 10: U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus speaks during a media briefing at the State Department June 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed topics including the latest development on tension with Iran. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“I’m thrilled to add to E-PAC’s impressive slate of Republican women candidates by officially endorsing ten more Rising Star GOP women for Congress. It’s clear there is no shortage of all-star Republican women this cycle–we have a record-shattering 260+ Republican women who are already running for Congress, which surpasses our record in 2020 during the historic ‘Year of the Republican Woman,’” Stefanik said in a statement. “We have strong Republican women running from Florida, to Indiana, to Arizona, to Oregon in top battleground districts that will determine the House majority.”

“I look forward to supporting these Rising Stars across the finish line in both their primaries and general elections. GOP women made history in 2020, and in 2022, Republican women are leading the Red Tsunami to Fire Nancy Pelosi once and for all.”

Eight Republican women won in Texas’ first-in-the-nation House primaries, including Garcia, Mayra Flores and Monica De La Cruz. Stefanik will announce her endorsement of Flores on Tuesday and announced a De La Cruz endorsement in November.

Stefanik began E-PAC ahead of the 2020 election cycle, helping 18 female Republican candidates win their first elections to Congress. Out of 539 House and Senate seats, 144 are held by women in the 117th Congress, a record-high percentage. E-PAC raised just over $1 million in the 2020 election cycle and made contributions to 51 candidates.

Leadership PACs like E-PAC allow elected officials to contribute campaign funds to their colleagues. E-PAC distributed the seventh-most money to Republican candidates of all House leadership PACs in the 2020 election cycle, according to Open Secrets.

E-PAC has raised over $500,000 ahead of the 2022 midterms and has made contributions to 25 candidates.

Full list of endorsements:

Tanya Contreras Wheeless (AZ-04)

Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13)

Erin Houchin (IN-09)

Annie Black (NV-04)

Liz Joy (NY-20)

Madison Gesiotto Gilbert (OH-13)

Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

Morgan Ortagus (TN-05)

Cassy Garcia (TX-28)

Mayra Flores (TX-34)