Donna Edwards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donna Edwards
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 4th district |
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| In office June 17, 2008 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Albert Wynn |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Donna Fern Edwards
June 28, 1958 Yanceyville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Wake Forest University (BA) University of New Hampshire (JD) |
Donna Fern Edwards (born June 28, 1958) is an American politician. She served as a U.S. representative for Maryland's 4th district from 2008 to 2017. This district covers most of Prince George's County and part of Anne Arundel County. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before becoming a representative, Donna Edwards was a lawyer and a community activist. She won a special election on June 17, 2008, to fill a vacant seat. She was sworn in two days later, becoming the first African-American woman to represent Maryland in the United States Congress. She then won a full term in November 2008. In 2016, she ran for the U.S. Senate but did not win. In 2022, she tried to win back her old congressional seat but was not successful.
In 2013, she worked to change the U.S. Constitution. Her goal was to overturn a 2010 Supreme Court decision called Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. This ruling allowed more money to be spent in political campaigns.
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Early Life and Education
Donna Edwards was born in Yanceyville, North Carolina. She studied English and Spanish at Wake Forest University. She was one of only six Black women in her graduating class of 1980.
After college, she worked for Lockheed Corporation on the Spacelab program. Later, she earned a law degree (a J.D.) from the University of New Hampshire School of Law in 1989. In the 1980s, she also worked for Albert Wynn when he was a state lawmaker in Maryland.
Activism and Community Work
Donna Edwards has a strong history of working for important causes. She helped start the National Network to End Domestic Violence. This group supports women who have experienced domestic violence. She also helped pass the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, which protects victims of violence.
She also worked with other groups like Public Citizen and the Center for a New Democracy. She was the executive director of the Arca Foundation, which supports social justice.
In 2015, Edwards helped introduce the Restoring Education and Learning Act (REAL Act). This act aimed to bring back Pell Grants for prisoners. She believed that educating prisoners could help them after release. This would also save taxpayers money in the long run.
Edwards is also a leader in Health Care Voter, a group that supports better healthcare for everyone.
U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Representative
Challenging for the Seat
In 2006, Donna Edwards first ran against Al Wynn, who had been the representative for seven terms. This election was important because the district was heavily Democratic. Edwards focused on Wynn's voting record. She disagreed with his vote for the 2002 Iraq War. She also opposed his votes on certain tax and bankruptcy laws.
The election was very close. Wynn won by a small number of votes.
Winning the Seat in 2008
Edwards ran against Wynn again in 2008. She argued that Wynn was not connected to the community. Wynn said Edwards was being unfair.
In the February 2008 election, Edwards won by a large margin. She received 60% of the votes. This win meant she would likely become the next representative.
After this, Wynn announced he would leave office early. Edwards then won a special election on June 17, 2008, to finish his term. She took office two days later. This gave her a head start in Congress over other new members. She easily won a full term in November 2008 with 85% of the vote.
Later Elections
Donna Edwards continued to win her elections for the House of Representatives. She won in 2010, 2012, and 2014. She consistently received a large majority of the votes.
2022 Election Attempt
In 2022, the current representative, Anthony Brown, decided not to run again. Donna Edwards announced she would try to win back her old seat. This election saw a lot of money spent by outside groups. Some groups supported her, while others opposed her. In the end, she lost to Glenn Ivey.
Time in Congress
Darfur Protest Arrest
On April 27, 2009, Donna Edwards was arrested outside the Sudan embassy in Washington, D.C. She was protesting the genocide in Darfur. She and five other members of Congress were protesting the blocking of aid to victims. They were arrested after being warned by police.
The other lawmakers arrested were Reps. Jim McGovern, Keith Ellison, John Lewis, Jim Moran, and Lynn Woolsey.
Committee Work
While in the House, Donna Edwards served on important committees:
- Committee on Science, Space and Technology
- She was a leader (Ranking Member) on the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
- She also served on the Subcommittee on Environment.
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- She was part of subcommittees dealing with public buildings, highways, and water resources.
Groups She Joined
Edwards was also a member of several groups in Congress:
- Populist Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
Other Campaigns
2016 U.S Senate Campaign
In 2016, Donna Edwards ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland. The seat was open because Senator Barbara Mikulski was retiring. Edwards ran against Rep. Chris Van Hollen. She lost this election on April 26, 2016. She received 39% of the votes.
Because she ran for Senate instead of her House seat, Donna Edwards left public office in January 2017. Anthony Brown took her place.
2018 Prince George's County Executive Campaign
After leaving Congress, Edwards ran for Prince George's County Executive. This is a top leadership role for the county. She lost this election to Angela Alsobrooks.
Personal Life
Donna Edwards lives in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
In July 2017, she shared that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. She spoke on TV and wrote an article for The Washington Post. She explained how healthcare laws could affect people with pre-existing conditions like hers.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- List of African-American United States Senate candidates
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
