Baltimore Sun

Donna Edwards became the state’s first black woman to be elected to Congress after easily defeating Republican Peter James last night in a special election for the vacant 4th District seat.

With 74 percent of the precincts reporting by 10 p.m., Edwards had captured 79 percent of the vote.

Edwards, an activist and lawyer, will serve out the remainder of former Rep. Albert R. Wynn’s term. Wynn, who lost to Edwards in the February primary, left office May 31 to join a powerful lobbying group, leading to last night’s election. She will serve the rest of the year.