Kathleen Matthews on Monday announced support from a half dozen Democratic congresswomen for her campaign in Maryland’s open 8th District seat.  

The lawmakers – Reps. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.; Katherine M. Clark, D-Mass.; Debbie Dingell, D-Mich.; Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif.; Lois Frankel, D-Fla.; and Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H. – will headline a fundraiser for Matthews on Tuesday evening, her campaign said.   Matthews, a former local television reporter who also led public affairs for Marriott International, is using the endorsements to appeal to women in a large primary field to replace Rep. Chris Van Hollen. She and Maryland Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez and four men are running in the Democratic primary.  

“These women are leading the fight to protect middle class families by raising the minimum wage, ensuring equal pay for equal work, protecting funding for Planned Parenthood, women’s health care access, and reproductive rights,” Matthews said of the endorsements in a statement. “These are values that I share and are core to the opportunity agenda that I will champion in Congress.”  

In addition to the lawmakers who are hosting Tuesday’s fundraiser – one of three this week in advance of Wednesday’s quarterly fundraising deadline  – Matthews has also received support from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s Off The Sidelines organization, a political action committee she set up to help elect more women to Congress.  

State Sen. Jamie Raskin, one of Matthews’ best funded primary opponents, has sought to tout his own support from women such as state Senate Majority Leader Catherine Pugh, whose endorsement is featured high on his campaign website,  and with a “Women For Jamie” rally  his campaign held Sunday in Bethesda, Md.  

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