ERA Coalition Announces First Slate of Federal Candidates with ERA Certification Stamp of Approval

Washington, DC –– Today, the ERA Coalition announced the first slate of federal candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate who have been awarded the ERA Certification Stamp of Approval. Earlier this year, the ERA Coalition launched Elect Equality, a new campaign to provide voters with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates across the country about their position on the Equal Rights Amendment.

“Women will have the power to decide this election, and where a candidate stands on equality will be the litmus test this November,” said ERA Coalition and Fund for Women’s Equality President and CEO Zakiya Thomas. “We launched our Elect Equality campaign to ensure that voters can find and support candidates who openly advocate for sex equality at all levels of government, and today we’re proud to award the ERA Certification Stamp of Approval to the first round of federal candidates who agree that it’s vital we enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment in the Constitution.”

“The Supreme Court changed everything with the Dobbs decision, overturning 50 years of precedent and rights for Americans,” said Senator Ben Cardin, lead sponsor of S.J. Res.1. “I thank the ERA Coalition for identifying the urgent need for more senators and members of Congress who will vote to advance the Equal Right Amendment now. Every vote will bring us closer to certification of the 28th Amendment.”

The ERA Coalition awarded the ERA Certification Stamp of Approval to the following federal candidates:

• John Garamendi, CA-8
• Anna Eshoo, CA-16
• Jimmy Panetta, CA-19
• Raul Ruiz, CA-25
• Pete Aguilar, CA-33
• Sara Jacobs, CA -51
• Chris Van Hollen, MD Senate
• Andy Levin, MI-11
• Rashida Tlaib, MI-12
• Angie Craig, MN-2
• Dean Phillips, MN-3
• Ilhan Omar, MN-5
• Maggie Hassan, NH Senate
• Chris Pappas, NH-1
• Tom Malinowksi, NJ-7
• Carolyn Maloney, NY-12
• Chrissy Houlahan, PA-06
• Marc Veasey, TX-33
• Suzan DelBene, WA-1
• Peter Welch, VT-AL

“The ERA has been one of my top priorities throughout my career, and I remain committed to keep pushing forward until the ERA is finally in the Constitution,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney. “With the recent Dobbs decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion, publishing the ERA in our Constitution has become even more urgent. Electing more supporters of the ERA is crucial, and that is why I am so grateful that the ERA Coalition launched its Elect Equality effort. Voters should know where candidates and elected officials stand on the ERA and gender equality. Equality should be an issue we all agree upon – and one that every elected official should stand up for. I carry my “ERA certified” designation proudly, and I am confident that with the ERA Coalition’s Elect Equality Effort, we will elect more ERA champions.”

“Women shouldn’t have to wait a minute longer for full equality in America,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen. “Recent actions by the right-wing Supreme Court and in state houses across the nation demonstrate why enactment of the Equal Rights Amendment is as urgent as ever. That’s why I am a proud co-sponsor of S.J. Res. 1 to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and am fully committed to this fight.”

“It is more vital now than ever that we pass the Equal Rights Amendment,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs. “When our Supreme Court and radical politicians are working hard to overturn the will of the people and strip us of our rights, we must enshrine in the Constitution that everyone, no matter their gender, has equal rights under the law and that no extremist court or political windfall can change that.”

“I’ve always believed there’s only one class of citizenship in our country: first class,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo. “No matter what gender, sexual orientation or race, without the Equal Rights Amendment, this can't happen for women.”

“Every American deserves the same fundamental rights and protections,” said Rep. Marc Veasey. “Legislation that can be altered and repealed is not sufficient enough to protect our sacred rights. Most Americans are shocked to discover that the ERA does not currently exist in the U.S. Constitution

As candidates respond to the candidate questionnaire, the ERA Coalition will award additional candidates who have shown their commitment to equality the ERA Certification stamp of approval. Voters will have the opportunity to use the ERA Coalition’s interactive tool to stay informed on a candidate’s ERA Certification stamp of approval status before heading to the ballot box at electequality.org. 

Thomas continued, “It’s become increasingly clear that women are not protected in our Constitution, and the only way we can change that is by ensuring our elected officials and those in positions of power are pro-equality. Only when every person can participate fully and equally in our society, politics, and economy will we achieve full equality. We will do everything in our power to elect candidates who share that vision and will push alongside us until the Constitution guarantees that rights cannot be denied or abridged on account of sex.”

To learn more about the Elect Equality Campaign, visit eracoalition.org/electequality.

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The ERA Coalition was founded in 2014 to bring concerted, organized action to the effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA Coalition has a sister organization, the Fund for Women’s Equality, which promotes public education and outreach on the need for constitutional equality. Composed of more than 260 organizations across the country, the Coalition provides education and advocacy on Constitutional Equality. 

While the effort to amend the constitution to include sex equality began nearly a century ago, our renewed efforts are centered on women of color (African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Latina, and Native American), gender-nonconforming and transgender women and girls, and nonbinary people – those who are most impacted by systemic inequities.