Who We Are

About Us

The Women’s Political Committee (WPC) is the oldest Political Action Committee in the United States formed solely to endorse and fund pro-choice women candidates seeking elected office. WPC is committed to achieving gender parity at every level of government.

WPC is composed of a State Political Action Committee (PAC) formed in 1977; and a Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) formed in 1984. These two PACs are funded entirely by membership dues.

In the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, Women’s Political Committee’s PAC contributions, combined, totaled more than $2.28 million to elect pro-choice women through direct contributions and independent expenditure campaigns both in California and around the country. It is also important to note that our members’ contributions as individuals go much further. WPC members are political influencers. Many WPC members host and attend fundraisers for the candidates we support, and volunteer for our endorsed candidates’ campaigns.

With more than 200 members, WPC is composed entirely of women and only supports women candidates. Candidates must support WPC’s guiding principles of reproductive rights, pay equity and human and civil rights to be considered for endorsement and support.

We are an all volunteer organization. Our Executive Committee and General Members are not paid for their services. Our 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.

Candidates must visit WPC member meetings to earn our endorsement and support. At monthly meetings, candidates address our members, are interviewed and then decisions on support are made by consensus of members present. Every member has an equal vote.

Before coming to our member meetings, candidates are vetted extensively by our Political Action Committee co-chairs and approved by our Executive Committee to insure they meet WPC endorsement criteria.

We encourage our members to engage beyond monthly meetings to support endorsed candidates through individual contributions, fundraising events and/or grassroots efforts. WPC provides the information, tools and opportunities members need to engage effectively.

In addition, WPC may support issue campaigns that are critical to the mission of WPC.

Our Mission

Women’s Political Committee (WPC) 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.

WPC is composed of a State Political Action Committee (PAC) formed in 1977; and a Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) formed in 1984. These two PAC’s are funded entirely by membership dues. Our membership is composed of women and we support women candidates only. At monthly meetings, candidates are interviewed and decisions on support are made by consensus of members present. Candidates must visit WPC member meetings to earn our endorsement and support.

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. Members may engage beyond monthly meetings to support endorsed candidates through individual contributions, fundraising events and/or grassroots efforts. WPC provides the information, tools and opportunities members need to engage effectively.
The WPC may support issue campaigns that are critical to the mission of WPC.

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WPC Herstory

The Women’s Political Committee (WPC), created in 1977 is the oldest Political Action Committee in the U.S. formed solely to endorse and fund women candidates seeking elected office. WPC is committed to achieving gender parity at every level of government.

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 10-12 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 todays Women’s Political Committee.

As the WPC grew, 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 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 the US Senate and House from California and across the country as well as supporting 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.

2024 must be another record-setting year for women running for office and winning – but 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.