Rep. Donna Edwards, who was actively supported by this website in her 2008 special election bid to unseat corporate stooge Al Wynn, is now facing a challenge in her redrawn district from the right. Glenn Ivey, a veteran congressional staffer, attorney at Venable, LLP and corporate lobbyist (click link for a list of his many clients) is reported to be gearing up to challenge her in the primary:
Glenn Ivey, Corporate Lobbysist
(Center for American Progress, flickr)
Ivey, currently a lawyer in a private practice, will file papers to run in Maryland’s 4th district in the coming days. He has an extensive government background, having previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney, as legislative assistant to Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), as counsel to former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and as counsel to the Senate Whitewater Committee under then-Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.).
“Glenn Ivey is laying the foundation for a Congressional bid,” Ivey spokesman Ramon Korionoff told Roll Call. “He will likely seek the seat in the Maryland 4th Congressional district, and he looks forward to serving the public in that capacity.”
Ivey will likely present himself as the "former Prince George's County Prosecutor" but the top item on Mr. Ivey's Venable bio page is "SEC and White Collar Criminal Defense." In addition, he is president of the Harvard Law School's Washington, D.C. chapter and former counsel to the Senate Banking Committee. In other words, Mr. Ivey is a Washington insider who will likely be bankrolled by corporate interests and become a near facsimile copy of Al Wynn, or worse. You can bet your bottom dollar that upon election, the Blue Dogs and conservative Republicans will have a brand new Democratic friend. Bottom line is that Glenn Ivey defends bankers from criminal prosecution for a living, and he will certainly do so in Congress. The empire strikes back.
Rep. Donna Edwards
Donna Edwards, however, has been a good Democrat and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She's done good district work. She deserves reelection. The only reason Ivey has to challenge is that it will be a stepping stone for his career and because he will have a great deal of money. Edwards hasn't raised a great deal of money, but almost all the money she has raised
has come from unions. But
we can do something about that and be as successful as before.
It is important that we keep an eye out for challenges like these as the elite establishment looks to solidify its control over government in the face of the growing Occupy Wall Street movement. Glenn Ivey is a Democrat out of step with the mood of the Democratic Party. After witnessing the events that have hit the middle and working class, he's definitely out of step with the times.