Emily's List Supports Rep. Wynn's Challenger

Abortion Rights Group Cites Narrow 2006 Loss

Emily's List, which calls itself the country's largest political action committee, has endorsed lawyer Donna F. Edwards for the Democratic nomination in Maryland's 4th Congressional District against incumbent Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.).

It is only the third time in the 22-year-old organization's history that it has endorsed a challenger against a sitting elected Democrat. The group supports Democratic women who favor abortion rights for elected office. Emily's List spokeswoman Ramona Oliver said Edwards made the cut after she came within three percentage points of defeating the eight-term congressman in last year's Democratic primary without the group's backing.

"We do not endorse lightly," she said. "This is a district that's looking for change, and they've found a very viable alternative in Donna Edwards."

She called Edwards "a tremendous champion of women."

Oliver said the endorsement is especially powerful because it means the group will advise its 100,000 members to make individual donations to Edwards.

Wynn spokeswoman Lori Sherwood said that as of Friday, the Wynn campaign believed Emily's List was neutral in the campaign for the Feb. 12 primary.

"Congressman Wynn is a solidly pro-choice Democrat with an excellent record on choice and women's issues," she said, adding that many women and women's groups support him. "It is our hope that Emily's List will focus on the Democratic House and keeping Nancy Pelosi as the first woman speaker."

Pelosi was scheduled to attend a Wynn fundraiser last night.