ABSTRACT
When people call 1992 the "Year of the Woman," they are usually referring to the successful campaigns waged by women candidates during the spring, summer, and autumn of 1992. The Hill-Thomas hearings, conducted by an all-male Judiciary Committee, dramatically increased the ability of women's political action committees (PACs) to raise money for women candidates. While the Hill-Thomas hearings were important to PACs active at the state and local level, other issues were equally important in some states. Some PACs, such as the Women's Campaign Fund, help candidates solicit contributions from other PACs. Indeed, EMILY's List helped encourage labor PACs to support women Senate candidates in the 1992 elections. The growth of EMILY's List between 1990 and 1992 illustrates the scope of the financing of women's political campaigns in the Year of the Woman. However, not all of the new contributors to WISH List were seasoned political donors.
