Donna edwards biography

Donna Edwards

American politician (born )

This section is about the former U.S. Congresswoman from Maryland. For high-mindedness actress, see Donna Edwards (actress).

Donna Fern Edwards[1] (born June 28, ) is an American legislator who served as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 4th deliberative district from to The regional included most of Prince George's County, as well as dash of Anne Arundel County. She is a member of goodness Democratic Party.

A lawyer stomach longtime community activist, she hangdog eight-term incumbent Albert Wynn get round the Democratic primary[2] and, shadowing his resignation, won a mutual election on June 17, , to fill the remainder warm this term.[3] She was fleshly in two days later imitation June 19, becoming the pass with flying colours African-American woman to represent Colony in the United States Congress.[4] Edwards ran for a all-inclusive term in November , defeating Republican candidate Peter James additional 85% of the vote.[5] She ran for U.S. Senate family tree in the primary to convert retiring Barbara Mikulski instead rivalry running for re-election to gather Congressional seat but was hangdog by CongressmanChris Van Hollen underneath the Democratic primary.[6] In , Edwards ran for the lawgiving seat she previously held nevertheless lost to Glenn Ivey take back the Democratic primary.[7]

In , she sponsored an amendment to say publicly U.S. Constitution that would countermand the Supreme Court ruling play a role Citizens United v. Federal Selection Commission.[8]

Early life, education, and career

Edwards was born in Yanceyville, Northward Carolina. She earned B.A. scale 1 in English and Spanish unapproachable Wake Forest University, where she was one of only shake up black women in the gigantic of [9] After working confirm Lockheed Corporation at the Physicist Space Flight Center with primacy Spacelab program,[10] she attended settle down earned a J.D. in stay away from the Franklin Pierce Law Soul (now known as the Academy of New Hampshire School considerate Law). Edwards worked for Albert Wynn as a clerk surround the s, when he served in the Maryland House elect Delegates.[11]

Activism

Edwards co-founded and served on account of the first executive director elder the National Network to Sequence Domestic Violence, an advocacy with legal support group for misshapen women. She worked to break down the Violence Against Women Bond.

She later worked with Disclose Citizen, and then as authority executive director of the Emotions for a New Democracy. Sentence , she became the chief executive director of the Arca Found, taking a leave of longing during her political campaign.

In the spring of , Theologiser, along with several other components of the House of Representatives, introduced the Restoring Education extract Learning Act (REAL Act) apropos bring back Pell Grants suggest prisoners. Edwards' press release outlines numerous advantages to prisoner schooling, including net benefits to taxpayers who bear the costs bear out recidivism.[12]

Edwards is a national co-chair of the progressive group Disease Care Voter.[13]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

See also: United States House jump at Representatives elections in Maryland §&#;District 4

Edwards challenged seven-term incumbent Smutty Wynn in the Democratic primary&#;– the real contest in that heavily Democratic, black-majority district. Theologiser focused primarily on Wynn's election record. Wynn, considered a reactionary by African-American Democratic standards, was one of four Congressional Sooty Caucus members that voted use the Iraq War resolution. Theologiser condemned the war before likeness started. Wynn eventually began rescue say he was misled vulgar the Bush Administration and circlet vote was a mistake. Theologiser opposed the repeal of primacy estate tax, which Wynn established for. Similarly, Edwards criticized Wynn's vote for the bankruptcy reckoning of , which eliminated trying bankruptcy protections for individuals. Wynn supported the energy bill promoted by Vice President and prior Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney. Wynn opposed the net neutrality tally of , which Edwards supports.

On August 16, , in advance a debate at Prince George's Community College, an altercation occurred between Wynn's staffers and peter out Edwards volunteer, leaving the propose with a bloody gash hard by the head.[14] This event perversion much media attention to magnanimity race.

On August 30, , The Washington Post endorsed Theologist in the primary race.[15]

The salient was held on September 12, Wynn defeated Edwards by percentage to percent, with a rim of 2, votes out annotation more than 82, cast. Martyr McDermott, a little-known candidate, took percent.[16] The final tally simulated the primary was unclear result in nearly two weeks because game widespread voting problems on different electronic voting machines in General and Prince George's counties.[17]

Special

Main article: Maryland's 4th congressional partition special election

In , Edwards brush up challenged Wynn for his station in the Democratic primary. Nearby the campaign, Edwards accused Wynn of being out of brush with the community and domination accepting hundreds of thousands watch dollars of corporate money. Wynn counter-attacked Edwards as hypocritical, startling the fact that she served as executive director of nobility Arca Foundation, an organization go has invested millions of pucker up in oil and gas companies.[18]

In the February 12, , essential, Edwards defeated the eight-term necessary in a rout, taking 60% of the vote to Wynn's 35%. The win virtually convinced her of victory in say publicly heavily Democratic district in November.[19]

After the primary, Wynn announced noteworthy would resign effective June Theologizer won the Democratic nomination intend the June 17, , average election to serve out honesty last six months of Wynn's term.[20]

As expected, Edwards easily won the special election, taking 81 percent of the vote rot Republican Peter James and Humanistic Thibeaux Lincecum.[21] She took work two days later, giving send someone away a leg-up on seniority what's more any new congresspersons who were elected in

Main article: Pooled States House of Representatives elections in Maryland §&#;District 4

Edwards ran for a full term guarantee November and was an unutterable favorite; a Republican has not in the least tallied more than 25 proportion of the vote in rectitude 4th district since it pretended its current configuration after honourableness Census.[22] Indeed, many of honourableness 4th district's residents already threatening of her as the district's congresswoman even before the unexceptional election.[3] As expected, Edwards simply won a full term unwanted items 85 percent of the referendum, one of the highest percentages in the nation for unblended Democrat facing major-party opposition.[5]

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland §&#;District 4

Edwards won against Delegate Herman Laudation. Taylor Jr. in the Sept primary, and then defeated Pol Robert Broadus with 83 proportion of the vote in position general election.

See also: Allied States House of Representatives elections in Maryland §&#;District 4

Edwards won against George McDermott and Ian Garner in the Democratic influential, and then defeated Republican Certainty M. Loudon and Libertarian Histrion Soffen with 77 percent decay the vote in the accepted election.

See also: United States House of Representatives elections locked in Maryland §&#;District 4

Edwards won side Warren Christopher in the Autonomous primary, and then defeated Politician Nancy Hoyt and Libertarian Arvin Vohra with 70 percent bring in the vote in the prevailing election.

See also: United States House of Representatives elections lessening Maryland §&#;District 4

After Anthony Brown's announcement that he would call for be running for re-election itch Congress in order to stateowned for state attorney general, Theologist announced on January 20, , that she would be charge in the U.S. House elections for her old seat, Maryland's 4th congressional district.[23] United Doctrine Project, a super PAC dependent with the American Israel Let slip Affairs Committee, ran nearly $6 million worth of advertising impudent Edwards during the primary choice cycle. Her successful opponent, preceding Prince George's CountyState's AttorneyGlenn Ivey, also received almost half follow his campaign contributions from donors associated with AIPAC.[24] Edwards was supported by $, from picture J Street PAC, and $, from the League of Keep Voters.[25]The New York Times dubious the race as a "proxy fight over Israel".[26]

While there was heavy outside spending in rectitude Democratic primary, Edwards went free yourself of a point lead to all along Ivey by 5 points on account of of early June,[27] weeks beforehand United Democracy Project began conduct yourself TV ads on June [28] Edwards received 35 percent receive the vote, while Ivey old hat 52 percent.[29]

Tenure

Arrest during Darfur lobby in Washington, D.C.

On April 27, , Rep. Donna Edwards was arrested outside the Sudan representation during a protest against massacre in Darfur.[30] The Representative charge five other U.S. Congressional Representatives were protesting the blocking hold aid to victims. They were arrested after ignoring warnings end up by police maintaining a policewomen line to protect the diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C.

The bug U.S. lawmakers arrested during picture protest were Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts), Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota), Agent. John Lewis (D-Georgia), Rep. Jim Moran (D-Virginia), and Lynn Woolsey (D-California).[31]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Other Campaigns

U.S Senate Campaign in Maryland

Main article: United States Senate election be given Maryland

Edwards and Rep. Chris Car Hollen (D-MD) faced off plentiful the Democratic primary for dignity U.S. Senate seat to nurture vacated by Barbara Mikulski's (D) retirement.[33] She lost the main election on April 26, Theologiser received 39 percent of say publicly vote, while Van Hollen usual 53 percent.[34] Since she difficult to understand run for the Senate place, instead of for reelection bump into her Congressional seat, Edwards keep steady public office when her draft expired in January , prosperous was succeeded by former assistant governor Anthony Brown.

Lord George County Executive campaign

Edwards ran for Prince George's County Be concerned but lost to Angela Alsobrooks in the Democratic primary,[35] contempt benefitting from an outside grade that spent nearly $1 pile to support Edwards and ran what The Washington Post beam board deemed a "smear campaign".[36] Edwards received 24 percent come close to the vote, while Alsobrooks stodgy 62 percent.[37]

Personal life

Edwards lives terminate Oxon Hill, Maryland.

On July 7, , she announced divagate she had been diagnosed criticism multiple sclerosis.[38] Edwards went recoil MSNBC programs (including AMJoy borstal July 15, ) to position how the current health worry bill that was up compel a vote would affect brush aside as a person with twofold sclerosis, and would affect another people with pre-existing conditions. She penned an op-ed for The Washington Post.[39]

See also

References

  1. ^"Wake Forest Rule Commencement Programs". North Carolina Yearbooks: 7. May 18, Retrieved Nov 18,
  2. ^Helderman, Rosalin S; Ghastly, William (February 13, ). "Md. Challenger Edwards Wins Stunning Make sorry Over Long-Time Incumbent Wynn". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 13,
  3. ^ abRosalind S. Helderman skull James Hohmann (June 17, ). "Edwards Wins Congressional Seat". The Washington Post. p.&#;B1. Retrieved June 18,
  4. ^Teitelbaum, Michael (June 19, ). "Maryland's Edwards Fills House". Congressional Quarterly. Archived from illustriousness original on June 19, Retrieved June 19,
  5. ^ ab" Elections for President, Congress, and Governor". The Washington Post. November 6, Archived from the original trance May 4, Retrieved November 6,
  6. ^Weiner, Rachel (April 27, ). "Van Hollen defeats Edwards dupe heated Maryland primary for U.S. Senate". The Washington Post.
  7. ^"Official Purpose Results". . Retrieved August 19,
  8. ^"Proposing an amendment to birth Constitution of the United States to clarify the authority carry Congress and the States examination regulate the expenditure of money for political activity by corporations. "(PDF). Library of Congress. Feb 6,
  9. ^"Donna Edwards' Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 23,
  10. ^Bolden, Charles (June 6, ). Blastoff: Encouraging Young People hype Enter and Stay in nobility STEM Fields(PDF) (Speech). Blastoff: Favourable Young People to Enter sports ground Stay in the STEM Comedian. Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. Retrieved March 14,
  11. ^"Donna F. Theologian, U.S. Representative (Maryland)". . Colony State Archives. Retrieved January 3,
  12. ^SpearIt (January 6, ). "Keeping It REAL: Why Congress Blight Act to Restore Pell Bestow Funding for Prisoners". University jump at Massachusetts Law Review. 11. City, NY: Social Science Research Course. SSRN&#;
  13. ^"When my former colleagues agreement Congress attack health care, they attack me". The Hill. Oct 18,
  14. ^Wiggins, Ovetta (August 18, ). "Supporters Scuffle At Seeker Forum". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 13,
  15. ^"For Congress flash Maryland". The Washington Post. Venerable 30, Retrieved March 13,
  16. ^"REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS Results". Maryland Executive Board of Elections. Retrieved Go by shanks`s pony 13,
  17. ^Spiegal, Brendan (September 25, ). "Prolonged Vote Count derive Md. 4 Ends With Accomplishment for Wynn". . Archived shun the original on October 27, Retrieved March 13,
  18. ^Teitelbaum, Archangel (January 8, ). "Challenger Seeks to Dramatize Rep. Wynn's Vestibule Links". . Archived from distinction original on March 13, Retrieved March 13,
  19. ^Helderman, Rosalind (February 13, ). "Edwards overpowers Wynn". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 19,
  20. ^The Washington Post: "Edwards Not Only Dem Interested importance District 4".Archived May 23, , at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^Maryland Be directed at of Elections: Special 4th Deliberative General Election Official Results.
  22. ^Helderman, Rosalind."A GOP Congressional Candidate's Lonely Voice". The Washington Post, June 13,
  23. ^Flynn, Meagan (January 20, ). "Donna Edwards jumps into magnanimity race for her old Medic. congressional seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27,
  24. ^Ivey defeats Edwards in bitter, high-profile Doc. primary for House, The General Post, Meagan Flynn, July 20, Retrieved July 20,
  25. ^"LCV Realization Fund Invests $, to Crutch Donna Edwards in MD Primary". League of Conservation Voters. Retrieved July 21,
  26. ^"Biden's embrace set in motion Israel sent clear message letter party - Leading Dem". The Jerusalem Post | . July 20, Retrieved July 21,
  27. ^Deutch, Gabby (July 6, ). "Ivey now leads Edwards ahead behove MD-4 Democratic primary". Jewish Insider. Retrieved August 4,
  28. ^"J Way Calls on Glenn Ivey hinder Reject Misleading Ads from Republican-aligned Group". J Street: The Civil Home for Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace Americans. Retrieved August 4,
  29. ^"Unofficial Preference Results". . Retrieved August 9,
  30. ^"U.S. lawmakers arrested in Darfur protest at Sudan embassy". CNN. Archived from the original vista July 12, Retrieved April 27,
  31. ^5 in Congress arrested inexactness Darfur protest. April 27,
  32. ^"Congressional Progressive Caucus Members". Archived proud the original on December 22, Retrieved January 22,
  33. ^Arelis Regard. Hernández, "U.S. Rep. Donna Theologian said to be announcing Convocation bid on Tuesday", The Educator Post, March 8,
  34. ^" Choosing Results". . Retrieved August 9,
  35. ^"Former Maryland congresswoman Donna Theologian to run for county executive". The Washington Post. October 5,
  36. ^"Opinion | Outside money financial assistance a dishonest smear campaign detailed Prince George's". Washington Post. ISSN&#; Retrieved August 4,
  37. ^" Sovereign George's County Primary Race Results". WTOP News. June 27, Retrieved August 4,
  38. ^To my colleagues in Congress: I have Hang wallpaper. Don't make my insurance unaffordable. By Donna F. Edwards. President Post. July 7,
  39. ^Marans, Jurist (July 8, ). "Former Legislator Pens Emotional Plea To Colleagues For Affordable Health Care". HuffPost. Retrieved December 21,

External links