Congresswoman Edwards received a 100% voting record from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights  for the First Session of the 112^th Congress. The Voting Record, which has been published for every Congress since 1969, reflects positions taken by every senator and representative on the legislative priorities of The Leadership Conference and its more than 200 coalition members. Members of Congress were graded on 18 House and 15 Senate votes addressing jobs, health care, worker’s rights, immigration, and more.

To read more and see a description of the votes, please click here.

Congresswoman Edwards announced that Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is endorsing her candidacy for re-election in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District.

“I am proud to support Congresswoman Donna Edwards.  She is part of the new generation of women in Congress who are coming into their own in a new way for a new day — claiming their power to empower others.  She is my partner — working to create jobs and opportunity in the Fourth District.” – Senator Barbara Mikulski.

“I am proud to receive the endorsement of one of Maryland’s greatest leaders, Sen. Barbara Mikulski,” said Congresswoman Edwards.  “I value our tremendous partnership.  We have worked together to maintain funding for critical scientific research at Goddard Space Flight Center, Suitland’s NOAA facility, and other federal facilities across Maryland, create a new emergency response and preparedness initiative for the national capitol region centered at Prince George’s Hospital Center, and protect women’s rights and health in the landmark Affordable Care Act.  I look forward to continue working with Senator Mikulski in the years ahead on behalf of Maryland’s families to create jobs, to protect Social Security and Medicare, to prepare students for the 21st century global economy, and to protect the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s other natural resources.”

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Please leave a comment, as short or as long as you like, describing why you support Donna in 2012.  Pass this along to your family, friends, and neighbors to show the incredible grassroots support Donna has in communities across the 4th Congressional District.

Gov. Howard Dean and Democracy for America sent the below letter to members supporting Reps. Edwards and Grijalva as two of the “biggest heroes in Congress”. 

After every U.S. census, states are required to redraw the boundaries of Congressional districts. It’s not supposed to be a partisan political process, but that hasn’t stopped Republicans and some Democrats from doing everything they can to take advantage of it for their gain.

This year, redistricting is putting two of our biggest heroes in Congress at risk: Representatives Donna Edwards and Raul Grijalva.

Few Democrats in the House of Representatives have fought harder than Donna and Raul to stop Paul Ryan’s plan to end Medicare. They stood strong to defeat attempts to cut Social Security. And they have never backed down in the fight to restore the American Dream for everyone. But now their districts have been redrawn to make them significantly harder for a progressive Democrat to win.

They’ve been there for us, now we need to be there for them. Please contribute $5 to each of their campaigns right now.

Donna Edwards is used to taking on the tough fights. She took on a corporate, right-wing Democrat and kicked him out of office in a hard fought primary. It was a classic battle for the heart and soul of our party and DFA members were there every step of the way to help her get the job done.

Once Donna was elected, she didn’t sit back and just collect a paycheck as too many in Congress do. She joined the Congressional Progressive Caucus and became a leader working for change every day. This year she led fights to overturn Citizen United and get corporate money out of politics. She fought to create jobs and foster long-term economic development.

And during the debt ceiling fight, the Washington Post called her “aggressive” and “a liberal leader in the House” because she said that cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid was absolutely off the table.

Now, because of redistricting she is being challenged in a primary. I am with Donna and I hope you will be too. Please contribute $5 to her campaign today.

Raul Grijalva is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Under his leadership, progressives in Congress have never been more unified, on message, or a greater force to reckon with than now.

Raul has made sure that we don’t just stay on defense fighting Eric Cantor and John Boehner. It’s our job to be on offense and offer alternatives. So when the Republicans offered a disastrous budget plan, the CPC offered “the People’s Budget.”

When Republicans ran from town hall meetings afraid of being attacked by seniors for trying to end Medicare, Raul traveled around the country supporting the “Good Jobs Now” tour by meeting with out of work Americans face to face and fighting to restore the American Dream.

Now, Arizona Republicans are looking for a power grab. They’ve redrawn the boundaries of his district to remove Democrats and replace them with conservative voters. At least one conservative Democrat has already announced intentions to run against Raul in a primary. And after a tough fight last election, you can bet Republicans have no intention of sitting this election out.

It’s up to us to deliver the resources for Raul to fight back and win. Please contribute $5 right now.

Donna and Raul have been there for us. Now is the time for us to stand up and be there for them.

Thank you, Donna, for everything you’re doing to move America forward.

-Howard

Governor Howard Dean
Founder, Democracy for America

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental policies, today announced its endorsement of Donna Edwards (MD-4) for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Edwards has an impressive 96% LCV lifetime environmental score.

“Congresswoman Edwards consistently supports measures that work to ensure America leads in the creation of the 21st century’s clean energy economy,” said LCV Action Fund President Gene Karpinski. We are proud to endorse Congresswoman Edwards for re-election because her record proves that not only does she champion environmental protection and clean energy innovation, she stands up to the special interests and their allies in Congress when vital public health safeguards are under attack.”

Rep. Donna Edwards is a strong supporter of renewable energy and protecting the environment. Most recently, Edwards has joined Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) in introducing the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2011. She also sits on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment and is an active member of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Caucus. Rep. Edwards has been a staunch ally in this year’s attacks by House Republican leadership on bedrock environmental and public health laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, including voting against H.R. 910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 that would have permanently blocked the EPA from reducing harmful carbon pollution from our nation’s biggest polluters.

“I am honored to earn the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund (LCVAF), one of the nation’s premier environmental protectors,” said Congresswoman Edwards.  “For the entirety of Republican control of the House, we have seen an unparalleled ideological attack on the environment and the agencies and rules that protect our air and water. With the support of the LCV, I will continue to fight in Congress to keep our air and water clean, to protect our Chesapeake Bay, to invest in mass transit, and to strengthen our nation’s commitment to ending our dependence on fossil fuels.”

By Abby Livingston

Roll Call Staff

Nov. 17, 2011, 5:06 p.m.

Rep. Donna Edwards appears to be in solid shape to win re-election four and a half months before the Maryland Democratic primary, according to an internal poll from her campaign.

Ever since former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey (D) announced his challenge to Edwards earlier this month, Maryland political players have been speculating about the degree of electoral trouble the Congresswoman is in.

The poll done by Lake Research Partners showed Edwards at 52 percent and Ivey taking just 16 percent in the initial ballot test of the Democratic primary. Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit, who is considering a bid, got 3 percent.

Read the rest at by clicking here.

Congresswoman Edwards released the following statement regarding passage of the redistricting plan in the Maryland House of Delegates on October 19, 2011.

Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) unveiled an alternative version of the state’s redistricting map (see below) as the Maryland General Assembly prepares its special session.  Governor Martin O’Malley unveiled his version of the map that he will be submitting to the legislature on Monday that is substantially the same as the Advisory Panel map released two weeks ago.  The map unveiled today by Rep. Edwards demonstrates that it is possible to redraw the map to address concerns of diluting minority voting strength, while still achieving local and national goals. This new map achieves the goals set forth by Gov. O’Malley and his advisory panel, while increasing the minority voting representation in Congressional Districts 4 and 5.

The Edwards Alternative accomplishes the following:

1. Allows for the possibility of minority representation in one of the congressional districts in Montgomery County;

2. Unifies the Latino/Hispanic populations on the Montgomery-Prince George’s County border in one congressional district;

3.  Enables a significant Asian population in North Potomac to remain as a cohesive unit in Congressional District 8;

4.  Enables African American communities in Montgomery to remain in Congressional District 4 under the Voting Rights Act;

5.  Strengthens the Black voting age population in Congressional Districts 4 and 5 and provides more cohesiveness in Prince George’s County;

5.  Provides for a more competitive Congressional District 6 than was Congressional District 1 during the 2008 election cycle.

“This alternative map shows it is possible to address the concerns that I and several other leaders from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties raised about minority interests as represented in both the Governor’s map and the Advisory Panel from which he deviated only slightly,” said Congresswoman Edwards. “Despite bringing to the Governor’s attention the fact that the state is prepared to act upon a map with which we will live for the next decade that deprives Montgomery County the prospects of minority representation in any of the three congressional districts in the County, the Democratic Party establishment is determined to act.

“Without the aid of the state’s tools and expertise, we have managed to produce a map that provides for minority representation in the minority-majority Montgomery County, consolidates a growing and heavily Asian population alongside their neighbors in the North Potomac area of Montgomery County, links African American populations in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, increases the African American population of Districts 4 and 5, respects the common interests of Latino/Hispanic communities along the common border of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, and satisfies the political interests we have as Democrats of electing another Democrat to Congress in a district that is far more competitive than the 1st Congressional District on the Eastern Shore in which a Democrat won in 2008.

“While it is unfortunate that I stand alone in our congressional delegation in expressing concern for the interests at stake, there is no harm in a majority of one when it is necessary to right a wrong.  I am grateful that several of our local legislative and community leaders are willing to match their courage with their convictions.  Once again, I share the political interests that are at stake nationally and in our state  But I also share our interest as Democrats to protect the voting rights of all people, and I continue to urge Gov. O’Malley and the General Assembly to do what is right for all Marylanders.  I remain ready to work with them. In the absence of these ideas being incorporated into the Governor’s plan, the Edwards Alternative deserves a vote.  Until the Maryland General Assembly takes a final vote, there is still time to take action to protect the voting strength of minority communities in our state. ”

Click here to see the demographic data for the alternative map.

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“In 1992, the 4th Congressional District was created to provide the minority communities in both Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties an opportunity to elect the representative of their choice.  The redistricting map proposed by Governor O’Malley’s advisory panel decreases the adjusted share of the Black voting age population by nearly 2 percent in the 4th CD and just over 1 percent in the 5th CD at a time in which this population grew in Montgomery, Prince George’s and Charles Counties. In my view, this proposed map undermines the common interests in the 4th CD that have been recognized by the highest court in the land for 20 years between Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, shared along a common border in the Metropolitan Washington suburbs. Moreover, Montgomery County, a majority-minority county, loses its minority representative because the county is removed entirely from the 4th CD in the advisory panel plan. Consequently, this majority-minority county is likely unable to have minority representation for the next decade in any of the three proposed new congressional districts, erasing the interests recognized by the courts in 1992 on the creation of the 4th CD. Indeed, under the advisory panel plan, each minority group that experienced an increase in population is effectively split among the three new districts in Montgomery County, making them statistical minority groups in those districts in a majority-minority county.  The net effect dilutes the minority vote in Montgomery County.

“I understand and share the political interests that are at stake, both nationally and in our state. Nonetheless, I cannot support this plan in its current form given that minority representation interests appear to have been sacrificed for these political interests. In my view, the constitutional considerations cannot be secondary, even to these important political considerations. I am confident, however, that Governor O’Malley can make substantial changes to the advisory panel map to address these concerns and still achieve all of the desired goals. I urge Governor O’Malley to make the necessary adjustments before submitting his final plan to the General Assembly, and I am eager to work with the Governor in that effort for the interests of all Marylanders.”

Watch Congresswoman Edwards speech at the Take Back the American Dream Conference.

Click here and select Rep. Edwards under the Video Playlist on the right.

The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank wrote the following about Rep. Edwards’ speech at the Take Back the American Dream Conference.