John, it’s AANHPI Heritage Month, and we're making sure these three Emerge alums are on your radar. Del. Kathy Tran and Del. Irene Shin are both defending their seats in the Virginia House of Delegates this year, and Rep. Reena Szczepanski won her 2022 election and is already making an impact in the New Mexico State House. Here’s why their work is so important:

Right now, Virginia Republicans are clinging to a narrow majority in the House of Delegates – but that’s all the power they need to push their anti-choice agenda and fuel the wave of dangerous legislation threatening our rights nationwide. And in New Mexico, the Democratic House majority recently championed several key bills that will expand protections for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans, preserve public lands, and strengthen voting rights.

Here at Emerge, we're working around the clock to recruit and train the next generation of leaders to keep up the fight as these three alums are! Will you chip in now to help Emerge empower more bold Democratic women?

At just seven months old, Kathy Tran fled Vietnam with her parents. Her family deeply believed in the American promise of hope, opportunity, and freedom. Tran won her 2017 election to become one of the FIRST Asian American women to serve in the Virginia state house. A mother of five, she has fought fiercely to expand health care for vulnerable children. Now, she’s working to protect the privacy of reproductive health data to shield Virginians from the GOP’s extreme anti-choice policies.

Early in her career, Reena Szczepanski (Emerge New Mexico) worked as a caregiver for young children impacted by the AIDS epidemic. She saw firsthand how families struggled against serious gaps in our care system and has become a staunch advocate for health care access, including an unwavering commitment to reproductive care. Right now, Szczepanski – who previously served as the Executive Director of Emerge New Mexico! – is using the power of her voice as the NM House Majority Whip to deliver the policies her community needs to thrive.

A proud daughter of immigrants, Irene Shin is the FIRST Korean American to serve in the Virginia House. After seeing her father face terrifying obstacles to finally get lifesaving cancer treatment, Delegate Shin knows how critical it is to protect access to care. She is fighting to reduce health care costs for working families, ensure access to reproductive health care, end pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, and so much more.

With a divided U.S. Congress and an ultraconservative Supreme Court, state houses are crucial battlegrounds in the fight for our essential rights. That’s why Emerge needs your help to recruit more Democratic women like Delegate Tran, Representative Szczepanski, and Delegate Shin to stop the GOP's agenda, protect our communities in every state, and achieve a more just and inclusive democracy.

So we have to ask, John: Can we count on you to give $5 or more now to help Emerge recruit, train, and empower bold Democratic women to run for office and fight the GOP’s agenda in every state?

If you've saved your information with ActBlue Express, your contribution will go through immediately.

Thank you for being a part of our movement,

Team Emerge