U.S. House of Representatives

The following figures come from FEC Form 3 of the campaign filings of those contending to represent Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives. The first figure represents total contributions other than loans covering the period from April 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008. The second figure represents the amount of cash on hand at close of the reporting period.

U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) will be sworn-in at approximately 1:45 p.m. today inside the House Chamber in Washington, D.C.

Edwards, who was elected Tuesday to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District, will become the first African-American woman from Maryland to serve in the House of Representatives.

She secured 80.1 percent of the vote in Tuesday's special election to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Al Wynn, receiving 15,381 of the 19,183 votes that were cast.

MITCHELLVILLE-U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) told PolitickerMD.com Friday that he "absolutely" expects Democrats will unite behind the presidential candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

"The primary, to some degree, appeared to be tougher than it was," Hoyer said of the contest between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

He explained that African-Americans are the "most loyal" Democratic voting bloc, and referred to women as the "largest" base for the Democrats "in terms of votes."

Hoyer said he was confident that white-collar workers, women, and seniors who supported Clinton would quickly see the "stark differences" between Obama and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and boldly predicted that "95 percent" of Clinton's supporters will back Obama.

The Capitol Hill and congressional district offices of former U.S. Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) will remain open under the supervision of House Clerk Lorraine Miller until a new member is elected to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Wynn officially resigned on May 31, a little more than two months after announcing he would step down seven months before his term was set to expire. The U.S. representative, now working for a Washington, D.C., law firm, lost his bid for re-nomination to activist Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in the Feb. 12 primary.

Former Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty (D) has repeatedly expressed frustration with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) for his refusal to debate his challenger in Maryland's Sixth Congressional District.

The latest instance came last Wednesday night, when Dougherty and Independent candidate Gary Hoover participated in a question and answer forum in Jarrettsville; Bartlett was not present.

"This does not serve the voters very well," Dougherty told PolitickerMD.com. "At least give them the courtesy of showing up."

Lisa Wright, the congressman's press secretary, said "there was no way" Bartlett could have attended the debate last week because "there were votes that night" in Congress.