THIS ISN’T YOUR MOM’S TUPPERWARE PARTY: HOW EMILY’S LIST CHANGED THE AMERICAN POLITICAL LANDSCAPE By JAMIE PAMELIA PIMLOTT A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2007 1 © 2007 Jamie Pamelia Pimlott 2 For Pamie: tee hee, llama, emu, snort! 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In no way would this dissertation have been completed without the support and love of a great number of people. First I’d like to thank my chair, Lawrence C. Dodd. Without his support and belief in me from Day One I would not have continued with my studies. I will always cherish the time spent with him talking about scholarship, politics, and life. Little did I know that having him as an advisor would be such a wonderful intellectual experience. I only hope that one day I will be able to offer the same kind of support and intellectual stimulation to my own students. I would also like to thank Leslie Anderson, who pulled me aside one day in after class in 2002 and said, “Why aren’t you in the Ph.D. program?” Dan Smith’s support and advice became critical early on in my search of the dissertation topic—I first began researching EMILY’s List in his Campaign Finance course. He also provided a wonderful sounding board as I struggled to find a job in D.C. and work through the juggernaut of campaign finance legislation. During a discussion over a topic for an Independent study course, Lynn Leverty, one of my first graduate school teachers (during Grad School Part I) said to me, “This topic is dissertation material!” From those first few courses—the Field Seminar and APD—and throughout this project Beth Rosenson provided an excellent blend of criticism and encouragement. I knew that if I convinced her I stood on solid ground. Peggy Conway, who I took a class with as an undergraduate eons ago, agreed to come out of retirement and serve on my committee. She offered me wonderful feedback, actually sending me hard copies of chapters that I could go through and see her comments. She also introduced me to two wonderful female scholars, Karen O’Connor and Sarah Brewer, who took me under their wing during my time in Washington, D.C. Lastly, but certainly not least I’d like to thank Kendal Broad, who offered wonderful comments and encouragement as I struggled with the how EMILY’s List used identity politics and how the organization evolved not into a women’s PAC but a movement. Any error herein is my own. 4 I would also like to acknowledge the love and support of Dana K. Bagwell (DKB). Never did I imagine I would find as wonderful a man—he is my best friend, my intellectual equal (if not superior), my soulmate, and the love of my life. He has been there to celebrate with me and to wipe my tears. He tirelessly read drafts of this dissertation on the way to work—missing work one day to help me make a deadline. He kept me caffeinated and fed on those long nights, every once and a while saying things like “get to work!” He loves me—I am a very lucky woman. Lastly I would like to acknowledge my parents and my daughter. My parents taught me to never give up, regardless of the barriers I faced (and there were many). I would like to think that this is a testament to those teachings. Without my Dad engaging me in political debates and being a news junkie from the time I can remember, I doubt I would have found my calling. Mom—words cannot express the debts I owe you. Over a decade ago, I said you were the ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’—thanks for teaching me how to fly. Finally, to my daughter Pamelia, my Pamie—I cannot imagine my life without you in it. Being your mom is the most precious gift—you are an amazing girl. I came to this topic by happenstance, but I would like to think that I pursued it because in it I see a vision of the type of world I want you to live in. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................4 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................6 LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................................8 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................................10 ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................11 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................13 Understanding EMILY’S List—the Thesis............................................................................15 Second-Wave Feminism and Electoral Politics—The Roots of EMILY’S List ....................17 The Emergence and Evolution of EMILY’S List...................................................................18 Members and their Organizational Roles ...............................................................................18 Candidates and the Organization............................................................................................19 Summary.................................................................................................................................20 LITERATURE REVIEW ..............................................................................................................21 Women as Tokens...................................................................................................................22 Women as Candidates.............................................................................................................24 Women and Legislatures ........................................................................................................29 Women Need Money..............................................................................................................33 Women Have Powerful Tools ................................................................................................34 THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT AND IDENTITY POLITICS....................................................37 A Brief History .......................................................................................................................38 The ERA .................................................................................................................................42 Women Activists and EMILY’s List......................................................................................44 EMILY’S LIST—THE ORGANIZATION...................................................................................46 Why a PAC? ...........................................................................................................................46 Women’s PACs ......................................................................................................................51 EMILY Grows and Matures ...................................................................................................55 EMILY’s List: New Frontiers ................................................................................................64 EMILY’s List Reaches Out ....................................................................................................77 EMILY’S LIST—THE MEMBERS..............................................................................................93 Where Do EMILY’S List Members Belong?.........................................................................95 Data and Method.....................................................................................................................99 6 Hypotheses............................................................................................................................101 Basic Demographics .............................................................................................................102 Sex .................................................................................................................................102 Occupation.....................................................................................................................103 Where Do Donors Live?................................................................................................106 Sex, State of Residence, and Occupation .............................................................................108 Sex and Money .....................................................................................................................110 Types of ELISTERs..............................................................................................................112 New Donors...................................................................................................................113 New versus Repeat Donors ...........................................................................................114 ‘Other’ Donations..........................................................................................................118 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................121 THE CHOSEN FEW—EMILY’s LIST ENDORSEMENTS 2000–2004 ..................................132 EMILY’s List Endorsement .................................................................................................132