Emerge Maine

Emerge Maine is the premier training program for Democratic women.

We inspire women to run, we hone their skills to win.

Our goal is clear: to increase the number of Democratic women in public office.

Alumnae Profiles

Emerge Maine recently graduated its sixth class. The eighteen women in this class will join the pool who have come before them contributing to a stronger and more diversified pipeline for Democratic politicians in Maine. As we move through the critical 2012 election cycle this pipeline has already started to pay dividends for all those who support the work we do.

Apr 9 2013

Our newest alumnae

Emerge Maine is very pleased to announce the recent graduation of the amazing women of our Class of 2013.

Jan 17 2013

Emerge Sisterhood at Work

Melanie Sachs and Kristina Egan, two members of the current Emerge Maine class have one thing in common: they both serve on the Freeport Town Council. They took slightly different paths to become elected officials and Emergistas. But both of their journeys involved an Emerge Maine alum, Sara Gideon, class of 2012.

Dec 10 2012

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose

Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. And sometimes, even when you wait until 4 a.m. on Election Night, the result is still unclear and you’re headed for a recount. Rachel Sukeforth, Class of 2012, found herself in the latter situation last month. Sukeforth’s campaign for House District 80 did not end until more than a week after the election, when the ballots in her district were recounted, and she lost by 4 votes.

Oct 16 2012

At the Top of her Game - Amy Cookson, Class of 2011

Emerge Maine alumna (Class of 2011) and board Vice President Amy Cookson is living and breathing politics this election cycle as the Field Director for the Maine Senate Democrats. Cookson hails from Winthrop and graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA with a major in Political Science and a minor in Women’s Studies. She received a Masters of Public Policy and Administration at UMass Amherst. Her first job out of grad school was as a budget analyst for the New York State Department of Health. We caught up with her recently to talk politics.

Sep 18 2012

Staying Power: Alumnae Profile - Denise Tepler

For Denise Tepler resilience has triumphed over regret.

Jul 12 2012

Alumnae Profile: Sara Gideon

If every journey begins with a single step, then every election campaign may just begin with a single knock on a door. Just ask Emerge Maine 2012 graduate Sara Gideon who last month won her primary to be the Democratic candidate for the Maine State House of Representatives from Freeport and Pownal.

Jun 4 2012

Alumnae Profile: Rep. Maeghan Maloney

Representative Maeghan Maloney, Emerge Class of 2009, did not expect to be embroiled in a controversy when she applied for a job as the interim District Attorney for Kennebec and Somerset Counties. Maloney, who currently serves in the Maine House of Representatives for District 57 (part of Augusta) was nominated to fill the post by the Kennebec and Somerset County Democratic caucuses. After approval by the Governor, she planned to replace the currently elected D.A. who stepped down after only a year and some months of a four year term.

Apr 25 2012

Alumnae Profile: Shenna Bellows

Shenna Bellows, Emerge Maine Class of 2010, is biding her time, looking for the right race. She considered a run this year for the U.S. House of Representatives when it appeared Chellie Pingree might run for Senate, and her Emerge contacts “pitched right in” to help, Shenna said. “Emerge gave me the confidence to know that I CAN run for office someday, and I will.”