I've written here recently about the Congressional race between incumbent Albert Wynn and progressive challenger Donna Edwards, in Maryland's 4th Congressional District. Although Wynn is a Democrat, his votes on key issues such as the Iraq War resolution, the Republican bankruptcy bill, the Republican energy bill, repealing estate taxes, the Terry Schiavo government-in-your-private-decisions bill, and gutting the Endangered Species act have all cast serious doubt on his ability to or
interest in reflecting the values of his Democratic constituency in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties in Maryland.
He has also been uncommunicative with those he represents such that most of them had no idea how he was voting.
But this year, in challenger Donna Edwards, he is facing "the fight of his life" - and he may just be beginning to realize that. My previous diaries on the race
http://www.dailykos.com/... and
http://www.dailykos.com/... have described some of the "street" tactics being employed by his campaign, and you don't do stuff like that if you don't feel threatened.
Donna Edwards remains staunchly undaunted by these antics. At the NAACP-sponsored debate that followed the incident described in the second diary, she unequivocally nailed Wynn on his record. See excerpts here:
http://www.youtube.com/...
This has been largely a locally focused contest so far. However, in light of the Lamont victory over Lieberman, and similar challenges around the country from progressive people stepping up to face entrenched incumbents who have stopped listening to the people, the Edwards-Wynn race has taken on national importance. From Sunday's Washington Post FRONT PAGE article:
House Races In Md., Va. Echo Quest For Change
Donna Edwards and Judy Feder live on opposite sides of the Potomac, two first-time Democratic congressional candidates in districts that couldn't be much more different.
But in their campaigns against two of the region's longest-serving incumbents, Edwards and Feder are the local representations of major national themes emerging in the 2006 midterm congressional elections. [emphasis mine]
When Edwards looks at fellow Democrat Albert R. Wynn in Maryland's 4th Congressional District, she says she sees Joseph I. Lieberman. Like the Connecticut senator, Edwards said, Wynn voted for the war in Iraq, one of several signs that he has lost touch with the liberal attitudes of voters in one of the country's most reliably Democratic districts.
Through her work as Executive Director of the Arca Foundation, which funds progressive causes around the country, Donna Edwards has gained the admiration, respect and support of well-known and powerful people all over: Barbara Streisand is a contributer; Danny Glover and Gloria Steinem have expressed their support on her website (www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com); Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary will perform tomorrow night at a fundraiser for her. There are many, many more. She is a model for the leaders we all hunger for - principled, smart, sensible, compassionate, eager to listen and unafraid to face entrenched, machine politicians whose first loyalty is to themselves.
The primary is Tuesday, September 12th.
READ THE WAPO ARTICLE http://www.washingtonpost.com/....
Show your support for Donna Edwards' Campaign for Change with a contribution to www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com.
or http://www.actblue.com/...
Become a volunteer.
URGE national progressive groups working for change to endorse Donna Edwards: MoveOn.org; EMILY's List; Democracy for America.com, etc.
Donna Edwards is the change we have been waiting for - the change we need to take our country back.