The first lady will be in New York to address the Democratic Women’s Senate Network policy conference, The Hill has confirmed. The group, chaired by freshman Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), is an arm of DSCC, which has several women running for the upper chamber in 2014: Natalie Tennant in West Virginia, Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky and Michelle Nunn in Georgia.
Most of the 17 female Democratic senators are expected to attend the luncheon, which will double as a fundraiser. Ticket prices range from $250 to $50,000, according to The New York Times, which first reported the news.
It’s a rare move for the famously non-political first lady. Obama did get involved in the Massachusetts Senate special election, campaigning and fundraising for now-Sen. Ed Markey, and stumped for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, but her campaign appearances for candidates other than her husband are limited.
She has been a strong fundraiser for the party. A planned West Coast swing was canceled during the government shutdown, but she is expected to join President Obama in his post-shutdown fundraising blitz, including an event in Washington for the Democratic National Committee.
This Friday, the first lady will address the Women’s Leadership Forum National Issues Conference in Washington.
Roslyn Ridgeway 