Maryland's 4th Congressional District

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.

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) issued a congratulatory statement today in honor of U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), who was elected to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District, yesterday.

"On behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, I congratulate Congresswoman-elect Donna Edwards on her victory and look forward to welcoming her to the House," Van Hollen said.

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.

LANHAM-- Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) addressed a large crowd of supporters during a victory rally at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26 headquarters in Lanham, this evening.

An upbeat and excited Edwards pledged to "get to work" on a day when she defeated Republican Peter James in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Al Wynn.

"We're excited about the victory and Ms. Edwards looks forward to representing the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District," Edwards' Communications Director Dan Weber told PolitickerMD.com.

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) introduced Edwards, saying he was excited to have her as a "colleague."

High-tech developer Peter James (R-Germantown) spoke with PolitickerMD.com following his loss to Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in today's special election in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

"It looks like people aren't interested in politics," James said, referring to the extremely low turnout figures today.

The district, which encompasses portions of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, reported low turnout throughout the day.

"When people don't come to vote-there's not much you can do," James explained, saying he was
"perplexed" by the lack of interest in the race.

Activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) has taken a commanding lead in Prince George's County through the initial counting of ballots in one of  two counties encompassing Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Of the 21 precincts reporting, Edwards has amassed more than 90 percent of the vote. There are 110 precincts in the county. Results from Montgomery County have yet to become available.

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."

The recently founded nonprofit advocacy group J Street endorsed activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) for Congress as part of their first round of political endorsements.

The organization, which calls itself the "political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement," serves to, according to their website, "promote meaningful American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israel conflicts peacefully and diplomatically."

They also claim to "support Israel and its desire for security as the Jewish homeland, as well as the right of the Palestinians to a sovereign state of their own," hoping to see "two states living side-by-side in peace and security."

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.