You already know that the fight for better Democrats in addition to just more of them is being fought fiercely in Maryland's fourth district, where Democratic incumbent Al Wynn voted for the Iraq war, the bankruptcy bill, and to repeal the estate tax, among other things you'd hate. As an incumbent, Wynn has a lot of establishment support, from Nancy Pelosi to tobacco companies and some unions afraid to threaten an incumbent.
But Donna Edwards is earning some serious support, too. She's already had endorsements from Color of Change, Friends of the Earth Action, Clean Water Action, and the League of Conservation Voters - a group whose ratings of him Wynn was caught lying about in September. And now she's got the Sierra Club:
"We are very pleased to announce today that the Sierra Club officially endorses Donna Edwards for the Democratic nomination for Maryland's 4th Congressional District," said Betsy Johnson, Political Chair for the Maryland Chapter. "We are confident that she will continue work to protect Maryland's environment, for our families and for our future." Sierra Club also endorsed Edwards in her first run for Congress in 2006.
This isn't one of those casual, "yeah, you can put our name on your website" kind of endorsements, either:
Along with the endorsement, the Sierra Club will lend its volunteer strength to Edward's campaign.
"We pledge to do all we can to help ensure that Donna Edwards is elected," concluded Johnson. "Scores of Sierra Club volunteers will contact voters on her behalf and we will speak to the public as often as possible about her exemplary environmental record. We look forward to a victory party for the environment on election night and to many more years of Edwards fighting for the environment as a U.S. Representative."
This primary comes on February 12. On that day, it's the choice between strong, progressive Democrat Donna Edwards and entrenched capitulator Al Wynn. In this solidly Democratic district, we can do better, and if we're going to have a capitulation-proof majority in Congress, we need to. Edwards is an important step in that long-term struggle.
On the web:
Donna Edwards for Congress
Blue Majority ActBlue page