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EMILY’s List, an organization that supports Democratic women who are in favor of abortion rights, announced today that it is endorsing Carol Obando-Derstine in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 7th District.
“My campaign is connecting and building momentum with voters, and EMILY’s List recognized that with this endorsement,” Obando-Derstine told NBC News in an interview, adding, “They acknowledge that I’m the best person to flip this critical seat.”
“She is exactly the kind of authentic leader that voters are looking for right now. She’s somebody who has dedicated her entire life to serving her community. She’s lived the struggles that so many families are facing, and she’s spent her life delivering solutions for them,” Jessica Mackler, the president of EMILY’s List, told NBC News.
Obando-Derstine is running for Congress in what is expected to be one of the closest House races next year. Mackler called Pennsylvania’s 7th, “the heart of the battlefield.”
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Penn., won the seat last year by just 1 percentage point, flipping the district that was previously held by former Democratic Rep. Susan Wild. Wild has also endorsed Obando-Derstine for the seat.
Still, Obando-Derstine will have to make it through the Democratic primary next year for the chance to face Mackenzie. In the primary, she’ll face former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure.
This is EMILY’s List’s first endorsement of the cycle of a challenger in a House race that has not previously run for Congress.
“When it comes to the fight for the House majority, it is absolutely critical that we have the right candidates, candidates who are ready, that are best equipped to win, the best equipped to lead, come out of these primaries and that is reflected in this endorsement,” Mackler said.
