Awesome.
Former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey has decided not to challenge Rep. Donna Edwards in the Democratic primary in Maryland's 4th district.
In a statement, Ivey cited financial woes as the reason behind his decision.
"With the April 3rd primary fast approaching and the ever increasing costs of Congressional campaigns sky-rocketing; it would take a very substantial amount of money to get my message out to voters in two very expensive media markets," Ivey said. "A tough economy and a compressed election time-frame have made it tough for my campaign to raise enough funds to move forward."
Donna Edwards isn't a creature of the Maryland Democratic establishment, and Ivey's challenge appeared to come straight from those quarters. In fact, the state's new districts seemed to be drawn specifically to generate an Edwards' challenge from Prince George County. (Fun fact: Prince George County is the wealthiest African American-majority county in the nation.)
However, Edwards has a strong national brand among progressives, and that national support may have been a factor in the reluctance of political figures, donors and Ivey himself to pull the trigger.
Although Ivey's campaign would have put some Democrats in an awkward position, Edwards became a cause célèbre among national liberal groups such as the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, the Daily Kos and others.
Furthermore, with an April primary, Ivey didn't feel he had the time to build the necessary infrastructure to oust the incumbent, particularly when the only public polling in the race showed it to be a blowout.
The poll done by Lake Research Partners showed Edwards at 52 percent and Ivey taking just 16 percent in the initial ballot test of the Democratic primary. Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit, who is considering a bid, got 3 percent.
Assuming no one files by end of day today, Edwards will remain uncontested in the race, and will coast to reelection in November in this dominantly Democratic district. All in all, the best news we could receive for one of the fiercest and most effect progressive advocates in the House.