EMILY’s List announced today its endorsement of Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), who is facing her first competitive election in more than a decade.

“She has consistently been at the front of efforts to protect women’s reproductive freedom, detect and prevent domestic violence against women, and defend Medicare from Republican attacks,” EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock said. “An EMILY’s List hero, our entire community is proud to once again put our support behind Lois Capps for Congress.”

EMILY’s List backs female candidates who support abortion rights. Capps has been endorsed by the group since her first election in 1998.

After two relatively competitive elections, the 2001 redistricting gave Capps one of the most gerrymandered districts in the country. It was known as the “ribbon of shame” for its long, skinny shape along 200 miles of coastline around Santa Barbara.

Her district was redrawn this year by the state’s new independent redistricting commission as swing territory, and she’s among the National Republican Congressional Committee’s top targets in the state. This endorsement will help begin to funnel national dollars toward Capps.

Capps’ most likely general election opponent is former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado (R), for whom national Republicans have high hopes.