Last night, two highly qualified people ran for the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s senate seat being vacated by Barbara Mikulski. In Maryland, one of the bluest states in the country (it hasn’t sent a Republican to the Senate since 1987 when Mikulski won her seat), this was tantamount to election. Representative Chris Van Hollen won with 53% of the vote. Representative Donna Edwards, whom Daily Kos endorsed, came in second with 39% of the vote, and eight other candidates took the remaining 8%.
Both Representative Van Hollen and Representative Edwards are good people. They are both committed progressives and would have made fine Senators. This was a race where Maryland Democrats were spoiled for choice. At times, the race got feisty with Edwards idealism being countered by Van Hollen’s pragmatism. However, Van Hollen’s closer ties to the Maryland Democratic establishment might have put him over the top. Part of Van Hollen’s success was that he was able to cut into her base with women and minorities, while she was unable to cut into Van Hollen’s base of white, middle class voters.
This is not the end of Donna Edwards, however. Not by a long shot.
Donna Edwards is 57—still young for politics. In many ways, she represents the future of the Democratic Party. She has a base among young progressives and people of color, and is passionate for the same causes Bernie Sanders has brought to the forefront of this election season. She had to give up her seat in the House to run for senate (the primary there was won by Martin O’Malley’s Lieutenant Governor and 2014 gubernatorial nominee Anthony Brown), but the future is bright for competent, passionate Democratic politicians like her in Maryland.
The Governor’s Mansion is currently occupied by a Republican, one who will be vulnerable in this blue state in 2018. Governor Larry Hogan narrowly beat Lieutenant Governor Brown in 2014 in a huge upset. I can think of few better candidates to take him on in 2018 than Representative Edwards.
In Maryland’s other senate seat, Senator Ben Cardin will be up for reelection in 2018. He will be 74 that year—it’s not a given he’ll run for reelection. If Senator Cardin were to retire in 2018, who would be in a better position than Donna to take his seat?
There’s always the House of Representatives, too. If Lieutenant Governor Brown is interested in a rematch with Hogan in 2018, that opens up Edwards’ old seat. And Donna defeated an incumbent Democrat in a primary to first win election—she can take on the establishment and win. If she challenges Brown in 2018, it’s not a given that Brown would defeat her.
Last night was disappointing for Donna Edwards and her supporters. But the future for her—and Democrats like her—still glows brightly.