Donna Edwards

Donna Edwards

US House, Maryland - District 4

  • A hard fought victory
  • A proven progressive leader
  • A voice of change for Maryland

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About Donna Edwards

Reconnecting with voters

Donna Edwards unseated a long-term Democrat incumbent who voted with Republicans on taxes, environmental issues, and the Iraq war. Edwards ran a spirited campaign and offered voters a progressive vision and promising new leadership in Congress.

A champion for women and families

In 1990, Edwards co-founded and served as the first executive director for the National Network to End Domestic Violence, leading the fight to pass the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. A strong advocate for seniors, Edwards also faced down a recalcitrant pharmaceutical industry to open markets for generic anti-arthritic medications.

Defending women's rights

Edwards has called Roe vs. Wade a landmark decision, essential to protecting a woman’s “right to privacy in her decisions regarding her reproductive health.” Edwards has also called for more federal funding for women’s health treatment, making health services more affordable and increasing access to contraception and family planning services around the world.

October 9, 2009

EMILY's List House alums join Speaker Pelosi to promote health care reform

Read My Lipstick: The EMILY's List Blog

EMILY's List House alums join Speaker Pelosi to promote health care reform

The Democratic women of the Senate aren't the only ones stressing the importance of health care reform for women.

On the House side, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading the way, holding a press conference earlier this week with the Democratic Women's Working Group earlier this week.

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August 7, 2009

No angry mobs, but tough questions at Maryland town hall

CNN

No angry mobs, but tough questions at Maryland town hall

There were no angry mobs or Nazi SS symbols at a health care town hall in Maryland’s heavily Democratic 4th Congressional district on Thursday night, but the member of Congress in the spotlight did face some tough questioning from small but vocal crew of administration critics in the audience.

Rep. Donna Edwards, a Democrat who was re-elected in November with nearly 86 percent of the vote in her heavily African-American district, earned a round of applause at the beginning of her town hall forum when she said she would not tolerate any rude behavior.

“You have to be respectful,” Edwards said. “Because I don’t know what’s been going in every place else around the country. But I know that that is not the 4th Congressional district of Maryland.”

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July 9, 2009

Rookies of the year

Politico

Rookies of the year

Maryland Rep. Donna Edwards harnessed the liberal left last year to crush eight-term incumbent Al Wynn, her former boss, in the Democratic primary — then won a special election for the seat when Wynn resigned rather than finish his term.

And ever since arriving at the House last summer, the 51-year-old lawyer, who shares a background in community activism with President Barack Obama, hasn’t turned her back on the activist wing of her party.

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