Who We Are

About Us

The Women’s Political Committee (WPC) is the longest-standing Political Action Committee (PAC) in the United States, dedicated to endorsing and supporting women candidates who align with our guiding principles: reproductive rights, pay equity, and human and civil rights.

Based in Los Angeles, and with more than 200 current members, WPC is composed of a California State PAC (formed in 1977) and a Federal PAC (formed in 1984). Both PACs are funded entirely by membership dues. In the 2023/2024 election cycle, WPC’s contributions totaled more than $1MM to elect pro-choice women through direct contributions and independent expenditure (IE) campaigns deemed critical to our mission.

All candidates are thoroughly vetted by our PAC co-chairs and approved by our Executive Committee to ensure they meet WPC endorsement criteria. Candidates are invited to our monthly meetings where they address our membership and engage in a Q&A. WPC members then vote whether or not to endorse and support the candidates, with every member present having an equal vote.

We encourage all our members to take additional actions to support our endorsed candidates such as making individual contributions, hosting or attending fundraising events, and taking part in grassroots efforts. WPC provides information, tools and opportunities to help members engage effectively.

As an all-volunteer organization, our Executive Committee and General Members are not paid for their services. The Executive Committee, made up of two co-chairs and various committee co-chairs, run all day-to-day operations. WPC pays only for legal and accounting services to remain in compliance with all local, state and federal reporting laws.

Our Mission

The Women’s Political Committee empowers women to engage politically, using our voices and resources to elect women candidates – at all levels of government – who support reproductive rights, pay equity, and human and civil rights.

Our membership is composed of women and we support women candidates only.

Guiding Principles

Women make up more than half of the population and we believe that should be reflected in the number of women holding elected office. WPC is composed of women members and supports pro-choice women candidates only.
Abortion services must remain safe, legal and accessible.
Reproductive decisions are personal decisions made by individuals in consultation with their healthcare provider, not by legislators or employers.
The pay equity gap must be eliminated.
Human and civil rights belong to everyone regardless of where they are from, what they look like, or who they love.

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WPC Herstory

Marcia Herman and Lisa Specht were part of a women’s networking group in downtown Los Angeles in the mid to late 1970’s. Through discussion with women from various fields in their networking group they recognized that having women at the table, participating in making laws in California would have a profound impact on all of their lives. In 1977 Marcia and Lisa along with Joan Palevsky decided to form a PAC to support qualified women candidates in California. They put together a group of about a dozen women and planned a fundraising dinner (which Joan hosted) as their first event. That successful launch led to many more dinners and the beginnings of what has grown into today’s Women’s Political Committee.

As the WPC grew, the late Peg Yorkin persuaded the group to institute membership dues to build up funds to support candidates. Endorsement criteria and guidelines were formalized; all candidates must meet with the group in person; the group would function as a “committee of the whole” with every member having an equal vote in endorsement and contribution decisions. And the most critical and undisputed requirement was that any woman endorsed must support women’s reproductive choice. No exceptions.

In 1984 when Democratic Presidential nominee Walter Mondale selected Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro as his Vice Presidential running mate, WPC expanded its political scope and formed a Federal PAC to contribute to Ferraro’s campaign. Since then, WPC has gone on to support women candidates for President, the US House and Senate from California and across the country as well as supporting women Gubernatorial candidates in other states.

Today WPC is made up of more than 200 members who fund qualified pro- choice women in California and across the country. And while our Executive Committee serves as the fulcrum of the group, WPC still operates as a committee of the whole.

We must continue to support women running for office because we still have a long way to go.

Now more than ever is the time to engage politically, using our voices and resources to elect women candidates at all levels of government, who support reproductive rights, pay equity, and human and civil rights.

Support the WPC’s Endorsed Candidates

Further the work of the WPC by personally supporting the candidates we’ve endorsed. Visit our ENDORSED CANDIDATES page and click on the DONATE links for the candidates you’d like to support.