Fort Washington

U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) will be sworn-in at approximately 1:45 p.m. today inside the House Chamber in Washington, D.C.

Edwards, who was elected Tuesday to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District, will become the first African-American woman from Maryland to serve in the House of Representatives.

She secured 80.1 percent of the vote in Tuesday's special election to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Al Wynn, receiving 15,381 of the 19,183 votes that were cast.

Voters' exiting the polls across Maryland's 4th Congressional District yesterday cited their desire for change as the most important factor in their decision to support U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in both her successful primary and general election campaigns.

"She brings a freshness and new blood," Phyllis Widemon of Upper Marlboro told PolitickerMD.com after casting her ballot for Edwards.

OXON Hill-Activist and congressional nominee Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) told PolitickerMD.com today that the housing and mortgage crisis would be her immediate top priority if she is elected today to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Edwards, who is expected to easily win the special election, said her potential constituents "deserve someone who will be fighting for them everyday," saying she was ready to get to work "right away."

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com as she greeted voters at various polling locations throughout Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, Edwards said the Congress needs to "send a bill to the president dealing with the housing and mortgage crisis."

UPPER MARLBORO-- Turnout has been low this morning for the special election in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

"It's been dribbles," Gloria Moore, chief election judge at the Evangel Cathedral location in Upper Marlboro, said.

According to Moore, as of 11:00 a.m., 104 people had cast a ballot in a contest expected to be won by activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington).

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.

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.