Emerge Oregon, the premiere training organization for Democratic women in the state along with Vote Run Lead, which also trains Republicans, was founded in 2009. Since then, Emerge has trained over 400 women, and more than 100 of them are serving in office right now.
First, the article has nothing to say about Vote Run Lead, so unless there’s another article in the offing (doubtful), this seems another Democratic Party promo piece by the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Second, how could Emerge not be successful in a state that is as leftwing and blue as Oregon?
“We have win rates of 80 to 90% per year, year after year,” said Annie Ellison, outgoing executive director. “The two things we really stress are ‘The authentic you is the electable you,’ – whoever that is. And ‘the right race at the right time.’ If you run the right race at the right time as your authentic self, you are probably going to win.”
This is correct, because in many parts of Oregon it’s impossible for a Democrat to lose. (To be fair, in eastern and rural Oregon it’s impossible for a Democrat to win.)