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Single Payer Candidates

Edwards, Donna (MD)

Running for Congress in District 04

Donna Edwards, the Next Member of Congress

PDA-endorsed Healthcare NOT Warfare candidate Donna Edwards won the special election in Maryland's 4th Congressional District held Tuesday, June 17. With only a five-percent turnout, Donna Edwards defeated Republican Peter James by a nearly four-to-one margin and will serve the remaining few months of Rep. Albert Wynn's final term. Wynn resigned his seat after Edwards defeated him 59% to 37% in the Democratic Primary held February 12. Edwards will face James again this November in the regular election.

PDA supported Edwards’ run in 2006, in which she narrowly missed beating Al Wynn. PDA made Edwards’ victory a major priority in 2008, mobilizing area volunteers, working on a "virtual phone bank," and bringing in National Board Chair Mimi Kennedy for the home stretch.

After the primary, Edwards wrote to the PDA community, "[W]ith the help and support of PDA, we earned an historic victory not only for our district, but also for progressives across the country. I want to thank the hardworking PDA activists across the country who helped with the predictive phone bank and contributed to my campaign, as well as, those members throughout the district who worked as human billboards, distributed campaign literature, made phone calls, and performed other forms of voter outreach.” [more]

Recent local decisions virtually ensure Donna will win a special election June 17

 

Donna Edwards won the backing of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Democratic Party Central Committee May 22nd by a 22 to 1 vote. Two days later, the Prince Georges County Democratic Party Central Committee also recommended Edwards, this by a 17 to 0 vote. These actions clear the way for Edwards to serve the remaining portion of Rep. Albert Wynn's term in Maryland's 4th Congressional District. The two counties' central committees will refer their decisions to the Maryland State Democratic Party Central Committee, which will then formalize the recommendations and ask Governor Martin O'Malley to place Edwards on the ballot. This process will determine the Democratic nominee for the special election in lieu of a special primary election. The Republican Party will determine a nominee most likely primary winner Peter James—through a similar process. [more]

Progressive Democrats of America helped progressive challenger Donna Edwards win a stunning upset victory against eight-term incumbent Albert Wynn. At midnight, Edwards won with 60% of the vote in this district where the winner of the Democratic primary will likely win the general election. Despite Wynn's huge advantages in terms of special interest contributions and insider connections, Donna Edwards marshaled support from what Wynn's campaign dismissed as "a vast left-wing conspiracy" to beat the most conservative member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

 

PDA National Board Chair Mimi Kennedy flew in from L.A. Friday night to ride through Maryland's 4th District on a Bus, then rallied for Donna. She stayed in Maryland through Tuesday night, working the precincts, meeting voters at Metro stops, and then celebrating with Donna and the PDA team in Prince Georges County. Mimi was hardly alone. PDA National Board Member Rev. Lennox Yearwood who was "born, went to public school, was ordained, and commissioned into the Air Force" in Prince George's County joined Mimi in rallying voters for Edwards, the most exciting and progressive candidate this district has seen. [more]

A fighter, not a follower, a leader who listens--not a politician who panders

As part of its efforts to realize the Progressive Challenge 2008, PDA chapters are actively stepping up to challenge Democratic incumbents who have betrayed the interests of working families in favor of corporate interests and Beltway insiders. One of the most exciting races, which has received considerable attention in both mainstream media and the “blogosphere,” is in Maryland's Fourth Congressional District where Donna Edwards is taking on eight-term incumbent Al Wynn in the February 12 primary.

Members of PDA's local chapter in Prince George's County have endorsed an authentic grassroots candidate in Donna Edwards. In contrast to Wynn, Edwards does not offer mere rhetoric on PDA's priorities in support of a Progressive Agenda. Donna Edwards demonstrates the capacity both to fight to make those goals reality and to forego any contributions from corporations or lobbyists who are determined to undermine that agenda. Donna Edwards is committed to fighting in Congress, without backpedaling or compromising, to bring the troops home--redirecting funding not just from military spending but from corporate pockets to fulfill human needs. She will not just speak out for a national publicly funded, privately provided health care, but is ready to stand up to the insurance companies to divest them of their power in the delivery of medical care in this country. She remains accountable to constituents, in working to direct government resources to protect and enhance the welfare of middle class and low-income families rather than special interest lobbyists and corporate scavengers. [more]

The final votes are counted and we've fallen short! Nonetheless, I am energized and humbled by what we’ve accomplished in these last several weeks. I take seriously the confidence that the voters of the 4th Congressional District have shown in me. When I began this campaign, I spoke to the failed representation of the seven-term incumbent. I also expressed great optimism about our capacity to be better, bolder, and more true to who we are. With your hard work and your votes, I tried to demonstrate that governing and legislating are a set of choices. We can choose peace and diplomacy over war. We can choose energy independence and environmental stewardship over waste and profiteering. We can choose health care for all, quality education, living wage jobs, and forward-thinking economic development over protection of wealth and wealthy special interests. As your member of Congress, I committed to you that I would listen and with your guidance make the right choices for our communities, our counties, and our country. That commitment remains true; whatever has been the outcome of this election.  [more]

Progressive Democrats of America has endorsed Democratic candidate Donna Edwards in Maryland’s 4th district congressional race. Edwards, an attorney and lobbyist for non-profit groups, is running to “return the voices of ordinary people back to the Democratic Party.” [more]

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