EMILY's List Announces Endorsement of Donna Edwards in Maryland's 4th Congressional District

WASHINGTON, D.C. – EMILY's List, the nation's largest political action committee and financial resource for women candidates, today announced its endorsement of Donna Edwards for Maryland's fourth congressional district.

"Donna Edwards is a proven leader and a dynamic, progressive activist whose efforts have been felt in both Maryland's 4th congressional district and across the nation," said Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List. "We have seen a tremendous surge of support from the grassroots community in this district and from our own members here at EMILY's List. We are pleased to support Donna Edwards and to help elect this truly impressive woman to Congress."

One of many children from a military family, Edwards is emblematic of what can be achieved with hard work, courage, and tremendous devotion. The daughter of an Air Force serviceman, Edwards put herself through law school where she found her passion for fighting for the public interest.

Edwards has a long history of being a champion for issues that affect women, the environment, and the progressive community at large. A tireless advocate for the underrepresented, Edwards co-founded and served as the first executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Through this organization, Edwards led the successful fight to pass the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 which now, amongst other things, provides comprehensive funding for shelters and services for victims of domestic violence and their children. Later, she formed a successful national effort to force pharmaceutical companies to open markets for generic anti-arthritic medications.

Though she took a leave to run for office, Edwards recently served as the executive director for The Arca Foundation in Washington, D.C. Through this foundation, she has helped to channel millions of dollars to important programs that make a significant difference in the lives of working families across the nation.

With more than 100,000 members across the country, EMILY's List is the largest political action committee in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has raised over $240 million to elect 69 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 13 to the U.S. Senate, and eight governors. Over the course of 22 years, EMILY's List has helped elect hundreds of pro-choice Democratic women to federal office, state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices.