Turnout Low in Fourth District Race
Exceptionally low turnout is expected in Maryland's Fourth Congressional district, as voters go to the polls today in a special election to replace former Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D).
A spokeswoman for Democrat Donna F. Edwards, whose defeat of the eight-term incumbent in the February primary set up the special election, said participation appeared "sparse" as polling stations in the Montgomery and Prince George's district.
Peter James, Edwards' Republican opponent, said he and his wife were the 16th and 17th people to vote at Rocky Hill Middle School in Clarksburg at 9:30 a.m.
"It's like a ghost town out there," he said.
Marjorie Roher, spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Board of Elections, said voting at one Montgomery precinct was at 2 percent turnout at 10 a.m. and reported hearing that 1 percent had voted in Prince George's as of 11 a.m.
"I don't know how much lower we can get than 1 or 2 percent," she said.
After falling to Edwards by 22 points, Wynn announced he would resign from Congress May 31. The winner of today's election will fill the remainder of Wynn's term, serving until January.
Edwards and James will face each other again in the November election in a contest of the next two-year term.
Edwards is heavily favored in overwhelmingly Democratic district. James said he has no plans for a victory party this evening, but instead will relax at home and begin planning his November effort. He said the low turnout could aid his effort today but suggested it would be significant if he received even 35 percent of the vote. No Republican has captured more than a quarter of the vote in the district since the early 1990s.
After greeting voters at polls all day, Edwards will party with supporters at the Lanham union hall of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 26. The event site is significant because the union backed Wynn in the February primary and hosted his party on Election Night then.
If elected, Edwards will be the first black woman elected to Congress from Maryland and the 27th ever elected nationally.
By Anne Bartlett |
June 17, 2008; 12:26 PM ET
| Category:
Rosalind Helderman
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Posted by: ZF | June 17, 2008 2:09 PM
I believe that our Congressional District's lack of civic participation is the fault of our 8-term Congressman Al Wynn.
While it is almost too easy to bash his record, it can not be denied that he did nothing to coalesce the people of the 4th Congressional District into an engaged electorate.
This is why I have big hopes for Donna Edwards. After seeing her speak and watching her and her organization mature over these past two election cycles, I think Ms. Edwards will be able to stir the voters in her District into a state of awareness on national issues.
She will engage the voters and bring issues and activism to their attention.
Best of luck to Donna as she embarks on her public service.
Posted by: PG'er | June 17, 2008 2:12 PM
PG'er makes sense. Nice to see someone else who really believes in our county. Prince George's is an important and valuable asset to democratic Maryland. But engaging busy people in civic life is essential. Donna Edwards gives us more hope. We need an investment in strengthening our non-profits, i.e., land trusts, civic organizations, etc.
Posted by: Chip Reilly | June 17, 2008 2:55 PM
Who knew there was an election? We in the MoCo part of this district (white voters anyway) were ignored by Wynn. We have no business being lumped in with large parts of PG county.
Posted by: wel | June 17, 2008 3:05 PM
wel, we were all ignored by Wynn except when time came for him to be re-elected--blacks and whites alike. Guess folks finally woke up. Why does everything have to relate back to race? I voted for Ben Cardin--had nothing to do with him being White, or not being Black. Funny, I received two pieces of mail about the special elections from the Board of Elections--not from P.G. I did vote today, and I hope Edwards prevails.
Posted by: Cheri | June 17, 2008 3:42 PM
When I vote this evening, I will write-in a vote for Connie Morella. It's a symbolic act, I realize. But she was an excellent, effective, and highly responsive Member of Congress for this district-- before the boundaries were shifted solely to benefit Shriver / Van Hollen.
Montgomery County is now split into THREE Congressional districts. How's that for continuity and compactness, supposed key tenants of Congressional districts.
As a Democrat, I remain upset and jaded that Montgomery County's Congressional districts were carved up. Here in mid-County, we have been effectively without representation since this district became part of the 4th Congressional District.
So I'll proudly march in to my precinct tonight, one of only a handful of voters, it sounds like. And I'll cast my vote for a class act and a real Representative in the truest sense of the word-- Connie Morella.
Posted by: Dem in Germantown | June 17, 2008 4:50 PM
is low turnout in a special election really news?
Posted by: who cares | June 17, 2008 8:53 PM
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Posted by: emilywww | June 18, 2008 7:12 PM
Emily, where have you bin all my life?
This is great. bring it on.
Posted by: Count Bobulescu | June 20, 2008 3:50 AM
I received the election announcement, but I do not understand the surprise that these special elections fail to muster large turnout. Election turnout on regular scheduled elections is always low, I'd expect special elections to be much lower.
Posted by: Donny | June 20, 2008 8:57 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
If the Board of Elections mailed out notices about the election, I sure didn't get one. I wouldn't have known the date if I hadn't read it on this website.