Peter James

U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) received her first two committee assignments on Thursday. The House’s newest member will serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Science and Technology Committee.

“These are two tremendous committee assignments,” said Edwards in a statement. “I would like to thank my colleagues for the opportunity to serve on these committees. We face serious challenges and I look forward to immediately getting to work on these committees in order to help my district and our country move in a new direction.”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed confidence in Edwards.

We feel like someone mentioned this along the way (The Gazette perhaps?), but NPR's Ken Rudin digs up this piece of history (and campaign button) about Fourth district Republican Peter James.

The current Peter James, who lost to Donna Edwards (D) on June 17 to fill the seat vacated by Albert Wynn (D), is 52 years old. The senior Peter James ran not against [Spiro] Agnew in '66 but in the GOP primary in 1970, after Agnew had gone off to become vice president. That James lost the primary to Agnew's administrative assistant, Stanley Blair, who in turn got crushed by Democrat Marvin Mandel in November.

LANHAM-- Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) addressed a large crowd of supporters during a victory rally at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26 headquarters in Lanham, this evening.

An upbeat and excited Edwards pledged to "get to work" on a day when she defeated Republican Peter James in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Al Wynn.

"We're excited about the victory and Ms. Edwards looks forward to representing the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District," Edwards' Communications Director Dan Weber told PolitickerMD.com.

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) introduced Edwards, saying he was excited to have her as a "colleague."

High-tech developer Peter James (R-Germantown) spoke with PolitickerMD.com following his loss to Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in today's special election in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

"It looks like people aren't interested in politics," James said, referring to the extremely low turnout figures today.

The district, which encompasses portions of Montgomery and Prince George's County, reported low turnout throughout the day.

"When people don't come to vote-there's not much you can do," James explained, saying he was
"perplexed" by the lack of interest in the race.

Representative-elect Donna EdwardsWith most of the vote in, Donna Edwards has decisively won the special election to fill former Rep. Al Wynn's vacant seat in the Fourth congressional district.

With all of Montgomery County and 65 percent of Prince George's County precincts in, Edwards leads Republican Peter James approximately 80% to 20%.

State Republican Chairman James Pelura has been e-mailing the party faithful over the last few days, trying to drum up some GOP turnout in today's solidly-Democratic Fourth district special election.

Today's missive noted, "Turnout is extremely low today and your vote could make the difference! Every vote counts."

It's never going to happen, but if Peter James won this thing... well, it's never going to happen.

Still, politics would be nothing without some good two-party competition from time to time. It's nice to see even the smallest efforts. 

Residents of Maryland's 4th Congressional District will go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new member of Congress to replace former Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville), who resigned May 31. Activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) and high-tech developer Peter James (R-Germantown) are the nominees of their respective party's. Edwards is considered the favorite in the heavily Democratic 4th district, which encompasses portions of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.

Despite their status as the clear frontrunner, Edwards' Communications Director Dan Weber told PolitickerMD.com today that the campaign is taking "nothing for granted."

Weber said the campaign has made a "conscious effort" to inform voters about the dangers of assumption, fearing that such a belief will lead to low turnout, and perhaps assist James.

Congressional candidate Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) received a Progressive Leadership Award from the grassroots organization USAction last night in Washington, D.C.

The organization, dedicated to issues like universal health care and ending the war in Iraq, typically honors three individuals with the award on a yearly basis who, according to their website, are the "indispensable leaders of the progressive movement." Past honorees include U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Tom Harkin (D-IA).

The Capitol Hill and congressional district offices of former U.S. Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) will remain open under the supervision of House Clerk Lorraine Miller until a new member is elected to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Wynn officially resigned on May 31, a little more than two months after announcing he would step down seven months before his term was set to expire. The U.S. representative, now working for a Washington, D.C., law firm, lost his bid for re-nomination to activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in the Feb. 12 primary.

Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), the Democratic nominee in Maryland's Fourth Congressional District, issued a statement expressing her support for the 2008 G.I. Bill, which passed in the Senate on Thursday.

The legislation, which President Bush has vowed to veto, will increase educational benefits for members of the Armed Forces, and will include a full-ride to in-state public colleges and universities along with the elimination of a $1,200 fee service members pay to qualify for the G.I. bill.