Donna Edwards

Donna Edwards has represented the 4th Congressional District (map) of Maryland since 2008. In February of that year she defeated incumbent Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.) in the Democratic primary. Following Wynn's May 31, 2008 resignation, Edwards won a special election to fill the remainder of his term.

Bio
Donna F. Edwards was "the executive director of the Arca Foundation in Washington, D.C.. Prior to joining the Arca Foundation, Ms. Edwards was the first executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, which she co-founded and chaired. A longtime campaign reform advocate, Ms. Edwards also headed the Center for a New Democracy and was a lobbyist for the nonprofit Public Citizen organization. Ms. Edwards participates on numerous nonprofit boards, including the NNEDV, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause and the League of Conservation Voters.

"As a grantmaker, Ms. Edwards is co-chair of the Funders' Committee for Civic Participation. For 10 years, Ms. Edwards served as trustee of the Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire, from which she received her juris doctor degree. She completed undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Ms. Edwards began her career at the United Nations Development Program and was a systems engineer for Lockheed Corporation with NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980’s. Ms. Edwards has appeared on ABC’s Nightline, CNN Crossfire, McLaughlin One on One, NBC’s Today Show, and on numerous other local, national and international news and information programs. Ms. Edwards has authored articles on civic participation, violence against women, election law issues, and community and economic development. Ms. Edwards lives in Fort Washington, Maryland, with her seventeen-year-old son Jared.“


 * 2006 delegate of the White House Project

2006 elections
In 2006, Edwards also faced Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.) in the Democratic primary. Due to issues with voting apparatus in Montgomery county, there were substantial problems with the voting process. Certification of the election results were delayed, but on September 25, 2006, Edwards conceded the primary to Wynn.

2008 elections
Edwards won the Democratic nomination by defeating Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.) in the 2008 congressional primary.

Special election
On May 31, 2008, Wynn resigned his seat in the 110th Congress. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) called for a special election to fill the remainder of Wynn's term. Edwards was selected by Democratic committees in the 4th District to be their Republican candidate in the June 17 special election. She defeated Peter James by capturing more than 80 percent of the vote.

Committees
Edwards will be assigned committees if and when she is elected to Congress.

Contact
DC Office: 318 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-0501 Phone: (202) 225-8699 Fax: (202) 225-8714 Email: 4mdHill@mail.house.gov Website

Related SourceWatch articles

 * 2008 U.S. congressional elections
 * 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
 * Portal:Maryland and the U.S. Congress

External resources

 * Edwards' FEC filings
 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Maryland's 4th Congressional District
 * Official Donna Edwards for Congress website