While Barack Obama was cruising to victory in Maryland, Progressive activist Donna Edwards won a stunning upset over DLC incumbent Al Wynn in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.
Edwards challenged Wynn in 2006 and lost narrowly, 50%-46%. That close race inspired Edwards to run again, and this time she clobbered him.
Edwards' winning strategy was built on uniting the progressive movement both on and off the Internet. Edwards got crucial support from Progressive Democrats of America, Democracy for America, Blue America PAC, Daily Kos, Open Left, and many other blogs.
As Blue America's Howie KleinÂ(*)reports, this is a huge defeat for the corporate-coddling House Democratic Leadership:

This year the case in MD-04 was even clearer, where Nancy Pelosi, Rahm Emanuel, Steny Hoyer and other Insider Democrats-- the ones who have kept impeachment off the table and kept the troops in Iraq-- helped push forward a worthless, corrupt reactionary backbencher [Al Wynn]. Their corporately-funded puppet got his ass kicked today by the people. The grassroots spoke-- very loud and very clear. Donna Edwards and smart, committed, independent-minded men and women like her are the future of the Democratic Party.
The new voters who were so motivated by Obama also voted overwhelmingly for Donna. Basically with voter participation skyrocketing in Maryland, Wynn's numbers are pretty much the same as what he got in 2006. Most of those extra voters went for Donna and her message of real change.
Donna will be more than just another Democratic congressmember. She's smart, seasoned, understands progressive values and is dedicated to principles. She worked hard in 2006 and never stopped believing in what she was trying to accomplish. And we never stopped believing in her either. The Blue America efforts of DWT, Firedoglake, Crooks & Liars, and Digby brought in over $61,000, more than for any of our candidates this year so far. Grassroots donors contributed almost $400,000 for Donna through ActBlue, enough to overcome gigantic efforts by scores of corporate special interests and the concerted efforts of the Democratic Party Establishment. Steny Hoyer, Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel must be kicking over the furniture tonight.
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Congratulations to Donna Edwards and everyone who supported her!


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