Progressives have an important new ally in the U.S. House.

Donna Edwards, an antiwar reformer with deep roots in the economic and social justice movements of the past two decades, won a special election Tuesday to fill a vacant Maryland congressional seat.

The victory simply advances the timetable on which Edwards would have gotten to Congress. In February, she beat centrist Democratic incumbent Al Wynn in a party primary, a result that all but assured she would take the seat representing suburban Washington next January.

But Wynn stepped down early and the special election was called.

Edwards, who campaigned with strong support from Progressive Democrats of America, Feminist Majority PAC, National Organization for Women PAC, Emily's List, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, SEIU and other activist and union groupings, won almost 80 percent of the vote Tuesday against a Republican she will face again in November.

The co-founder of the National Network to End Domestic Violence and former head of the Center for a New Democracy, who more recently served as executive director of the Arca Foundation, will be sworn in immediately.

Edwards is the first member of Congress elected with the endorsement of JStreetPAC, the political arm of J Street, the recently founded movement formed to "promote meaningful American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israel conflicts peacefully and diplomatically."

JStreetPAC said of Edwards "She'll be a strong voice for American leadership in pursuing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as aggressive diplomacy to advance U.S. interests in the Middle East."

Comments (4)

1. Interesting juxtaposition with your newest article on Obama and trade, Mr Nichols.

   Posted by Mask at 06/18/2008 @ 4:03pm

2. almost 80%? Wow...

   Posted by yutsano at 06/18/2008 @ 7:41pm

3. Splendid result.

   Now just wait until Nov & the landslide.

   The only suspense is how big.

   All the rest of the "news" this summer is blather, the MSM looking to create questions about an obvious outcome so they can maintain ad time/space ratings.

   Ignore them, turn off the TV.

   Posted by sloper at 06/19/2008 @ 10:57am

4. Posted by sloper at 06/19/2008

   Just heard a guy on XM's POTUS '08 show say that he now has Obama winning by something like 350!!!!! electorals verus 190 to McCain.

   Posted by Mask at 06/19/2008 @ 12:19pm