Fort Washington

U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) will be sworn-in at approximately 1:45 p.m. today inside the House Chamber in Washington, D.C.

Edwards, who was elected Tuesday to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District, will become the first African-American woman from Maryland to serve in the House of Representatives.

She secured 80.1 percent of the vote in Tuesday's special election to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Al Wynn, receiving 15,381 of the 19,183 votes that were cast.

Voters exiting the polls across Maryland's 4th Congressional District yesterday cited their desire for change as the most important factor in their decision to support U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in both her successful primary and general election campaigns.

"She brings a freshness and new blood," Phyllis Widemon of Upper Marlboro told PolitickerMD.com after casting her ballot for Edwards.

OXON Hill-Activist and congressional nominee Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) told PolitickerMD.com today that the housing and mortgage crisis would be her immediate top priority if she is elected today to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Edwards, who is expected to easily win the special election, said her potential constituents "deserve someone who will be fighting for them everyday," saying she was ready to get to work "right away."

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com as she greeted voters at various polling locations throughout Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, Edwards said the Congress needs to "send a bill to the president dealing with the housing and mortgage crisis."

Donna Edwards and son Jared greet a voter outside a polling place in Upper Marlboro: Politicker PhotoUPPER MARLBORO-- Turnout has been low this morning for the special election in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

"It's been dribbles," Gloria Moore, chief election judge at the Evangel Cathedral location in Upper Marlboro, said.

According to Moore, as of 11:00 a.m., 104 people had cast a ballot in a contest expected to be won by activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington).

Residents of Maryland's 4th Congressional District will go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new member of Congress to replace former Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville), who resigned May 31. Activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) and high-tech developer Peter James (R-Germantown) are the nominees of their respective party's. Edwards is considered the favorite in the heavily Democratic 4th district, which encompasses portions of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.

Despite their status as the clear frontrunner, Edwards' Communications Director Dan Weber told PolitickerMD.com today that the campaign is taking "nothing for granted."

Weber said the campaign has made a "conscious effort" to inform voters about the dangers of assumption, fearing that such a belief will lead to low turnout, and perhaps assist James.

Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), the Democratic nominee in Maryland's Fourth Congressional District, issued a statement expressing her support for the 2008 G.I. Bill, which passed in the Senate on Thursday.

The legislation, which President Bush has vowed to veto, will increase educational benefits for members of the Armed Forces, and will include a full-ride to in-state public colleges and universities along with the elimination of a $1,200 fee service members pay to qualify for the G.I. bill.

Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has yet to determine when a special general election in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District will be held, according to his communications director, Rick Abbruzzese.

“He still has to make that announcement,” Abbruzzese told PolitickerMD.com, saying the governor would “continue to talk to local jurisdictions” before making a final decision.

Abbruzzese said he did not know when the governor would set a date for the election.

The General Assembly passed emergency legislation last weekend to allow O’Malley plans to bypass a special primary election and hold a special general election.

Under the new law, the governor has the right to decline a special primary, while local and state central committees shall have the power to nominate a candidate if the governor refuses a primary.

Former Gov. Parris Glendening would hold a special election to fill Maryland’s 4th Congressional District seat if he were in office today, he told PolitickerMD.com.

“It’s not an easy yes or no question,” Glendening, who served as governor from 1995-2003, said. “I don’t envy Governor (Martin) O’Malley on this.”

Despite the fact that a special election could cost the state “several million dollars,” Glendening said, “I wouldn’t want to see the district without representation.”

O’Malley has yet to say if he will hold a special primary and general election to fill the remaining seven months of Rep. Al Wynn’s (D-Mitchellville) term when he resigns in June.

It is expected that Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), who defeated Wynn in the Feb. 12 Democratic primary, would win a special election.

Last week, Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) announced that he would resign his position in June, leaving seven months before Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), the presumptive next representative in Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District, is to be sworn-in.

The resignation set off speculation as to whether Gov. Martin O’Malley will declare a special election to fill the remainder of Wynn’s term.

According to the Maryland State Code, Election Law, subsection 8-710- Congressional vacancy - Governor's proclamation, “If there is a vacancy in the office of Representative in Congress, the Governor shall issue a proclamation, within 10 days after the date that the vacancy occurs or becomes known to the Governor, declaring that a special primary election and a special general election shall be held to fill the vacancy.”

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Lusby) said this afternoon that Gov. Martin O’Malley might be thinking twice about calling a special election in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District because of the possible implications for the Democratic Party’s presidential contest.

“The governor might not be inclined to call for a special election,” O’Donnell told PolitickerMD.com. “He is a Clinton supporter.”

Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), who beat Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) in this year’s primary and would be the presumptive winner of a special election, is a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and would cast her superdelegate vote for Obama at the Democratic National Convention in late August. O’Malley, also a superdelegate, has pledged his support for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

O’Donnell’s remarks come one day after Wynn announced his intention to resign his seat in June. His term was scheduled to expire January 3. Edwards is expected to easily win November’s general election.