All 16 Female Democratic Senators Urge Hillary to Run

All 16 female Democratic senators signed a private letter to former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton urging her to run for president in 2016, say two high-ranking Democratic Senate aides.

The letter includes signatures from three women whose names have been mentioned as potential candidates, reports ABC News, and was written at the urging of California Sen. Barbara Boxer to show support from Clinton's former colleagues.

The letter was kept private until Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., spoke of it during a New York City event on Monday.

"All of the Senate Democratic women have written her a letter encouraging her to run," Hagan said during a gathering organized by Emily's List, Capital New York reports.

The organization's "Madam President" series is setting events nationwide to promote interest in a female Democratic presidential candidate.

At the New York event, organizers hung two banners with the faces of a dozen female leaders, including Clinton's. The event's press kit featured Clinton at the top of a list of "Women We're Watching" for 2016.



Hagan's office isn't commenting about her statement, nor is Clinton's.

While Boxer's office declined a direct comment about the letter, she told ABC through a prepared statement that she has "repeatedly said – publicly, privately and in writing – that Hillary Clinton should run for president in 2016. I can only speak for myself. I’ll leave it to my colleagues to describe their views."

The letter itself has not come out yet, but it shows that some of Clinton's biggest potential rivals, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, all signed off on a document supporting the former first lady.

Gillibrand and Klobuchar are both Clinton supporters who insiders think will step back on their White House ambitions if Clinton decides to run.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., also been publicly urging Clinton to seek the presidency, including aligning herself with the Ready for Hillary PAC. She has also been active in the Emily's List series.

Clinton has said she likely won't make an announcement until sometime next year.

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