Republicans launch effort to recruit female candidates

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Republican state Sen. Julie Raque Adams has launched an organization to recruit and train female candidates to run for public office.

The Lexington Herald-Leader (http://bit.ly/1ijCds4) reports Adams announced on Wednesday that she will serve as executive director of Kentucky Strong, which has the backing of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Adams cited the lack of women elected to public office in the state, citing data that showed Kentucky is near the bottom nationally in the percentage of women elected to its legislature.

McConnell said in a statement that women will get the training they need to run and win elections.

A similar organization called Emerge Kentucky recruits women to run for office as Democrats.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.