Rep. Donna Edwards, Democrat (MD-04)

Donna Edwards is the first African-American woman to represent Maryland in the US House of Representatives. She is also the first female Democrat elected to the House of Representatives from Maryland in 15 years. She has been a leading progressive on environmental, labor, education, and women’s issues, has been a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq, and a strong advocate for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Before joining the House of Representatives she served as the Executive Director of The Arca Foundation, a group dedicated to the pursuit of social equity and justice for 8 years. In that position, she gained national prominence as a strategist and creator of innovative efforts to support "living wage" campaigns, ensure the independence of the federal judiciary, end capital punishment, protect Social Security, and support labor and human rights internationally. She currently serves on the House Science and Technology and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

Rep. Edwards is a strong advocate for pro-Israel, pro-peace initiatives. Her 2008 campaign website read, "the U.S. should not cease in its efforts to achieve a two-state solution in which Israel’s neighbors recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state, living in security alongside an independent and autonomous Palestinian state" and that "resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be pursued in parallel to diplomatic engagement that must take place with Iran, Syria and Arab allies." She also believes that "Israel and the United States share a common bond based on common values." Since her election to office in 2008, Donna Edwards has supported the Cohen-Boustany-Carnahan letter supporting President Obama’s Middle East peace policy and co-sponsored a House Resolution supporting the appointment of former Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace.

JStreetPAC is happy to have Donna Edwards as a re-endorsed candidate for 2010.