Scott Powers
The Women Under Forty Political Action Committee, a non-partisan group that supports young women candidates, has endorsed Democrat Anna Eskamani in her bid to be elected in Florida’s House District 47, her campaign announced Friday.
The WUFPAC has been around since 1999 promoting women candidates age 40 or under who are running for state or federal office. In recent election cycles it has made contributions of up to $2,000 to the campaigns of candidates it backs. In 2016 it supported seven Republicans and seven Democrats nationwide with contributions.
This year, prior to Eskamani’s selection, WUFPAC had announced the endorsements of 14 candidates nationwide. Eskamani is the first in Florida this year.
Eskamani, a Planned Parenthood official from Orlando, seeks election in HD 47 to succeed Republican state Rep. Mike Miller who is running for Congress. Winter Park businessman Stockton Reeves is running for the Republicans.
“Anna is a dedicated member of her community, and she is committed to fight for those she hopes to serve,” WUFPAC President Atalie Ebersole stated in a news release issued by Eskamani’s campaign. “We are excited to support her on her mission to move Florida forward.”
The group declares a two-fold mission for its efforts: To help elect more young women to elected office so that young women have an equal voice in shaping public policy; and to build the seniority of women in Congress by electing women at a young age.
“There is such an urgent need for more female representation in political spaces. Women are half the population, yet we represent only 25 percent of state legislatures across the country, including right here in Florida,” Eskamani stated in the news release. “I believe firmly that increasing female representation will lead not only to better policy making, but less cases of sexual harassment and improved reporting systems too. I am excited for the opportunity to lift women’s voices in policy making, and am honored to be paving the way for more women to run for office too.”
