Donna Edwards

Donna F. Edwards served as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 4th congressional district from 2008 to 2017, representing the Democratic Party. Her political career began to gain momentum when she defeated eight-term incumbent Albert Wynn in the 2008 Democratic primary. This victory marked her as the first African-American woman to represent Maryland in the United States Congress. She had several attempts to further her political career, including running for U.S. Senate in 2016 and the congressional seat she previously held in 2022, albeit without success.

Edwards was known for her active involvement in legislation during her tenure as a U.S. representative. She sponsored an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that aimed to repeal the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. As a member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and its subcommittees, she contributed to shaping policies in these fields. She was also a member of the Populist Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, signaling her alignment with progressive politics.

Prior to her political career, Edwards co-founded and served as the first executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, demonstrating her commitment to social issues. She has been a consistent advocate for affordable healthcare and has shared her personal experience with multiple sclerosis to highlight the importance of healthcare accessibility. Edwards has also used various platforms, including C-SPAN and other media outlets, to voice her views and engage with the public. She has an academic background in law from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Wake Forest University.