Rigorous Criteria

In addition to recommendations from state and local NOW chapters, NOW PACs base their endorsements on a broad feminist agenda. No other PAC expects its candidates to take strong stands on such a wide range of issues. These issues include, but are not limited to:

• reproductive freedom without restriction
• civil rights for all people–with emphasis on lesbian and gay rights
• racial justice
• moving women out of poverty through empowering, non-punitive welfare policies
• a constitutional amendment that guarantees women equality, reproductive rights and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation affirmative action ensuring equal opportunity for women and people of color
• ending violence against women

After the elections, NOW follows up with the officials that NOW PACs helped elect to make sure they are meeting these commitments.

Endorsement Levels

Endorsement plus PAC contribution – This is the highest level of endorsement and is given only to those candidates who support all of our issues and will take a leadership position on those issues if elected.

Endorsement only – This level requires support for all of our issues even though the candidate may not take a leadership position of one or more of our issues.
Support – A candidate who is good on all of our issues but won’t take a leadership role, or is good on most of our issues but has a problem with one or two.

Recommend – A candidate who is good on a few of our issues, but will not be a leader, or a candidate who is not very good on our issues but is significantly better than their opposition.