The politics of race are stirring amid the competition between Reps. Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen in Maryland's Senate Democratic primary.
Edwards is running a close race with Van Hollen,
reports Politico with Edwards at 44 percent and Van Hollen at 40, a
Washington Post-University of Maryland poll reports.
Edwards could make history in her candidacy. She would be the first African-American woman in the Senate since the 1990s.
In an interview, she said she is focusing on African-American voters and female voters. "I walked in their shoes as a working person… an African-American woman … as a mom."
The candidates have areas in which they agree, they said at a debate reported in the
Baltimore Sun.
Both Edwards and Van Hollen are similar in their liberal stances on labor, the environment, and abortion. Van Hollen is the top Democrat on the Budget Committee. Edwards is a chairwoman of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Edwards was once part of a plan to put Van Hollen in line to succeed Nancy Pelosi when she retires, but Van Hollen chose to run for Senate instead.
Van Hollen cited a Lugar Report that said Edwards was "rated last among all the Democrats in terms of willingness to work with people to get things done."
Edwards said Van Hollen is willing to accept cuts to Social Security and Medicare in a campaign ad, reported the
Baltimore Sun. "I don't take money from Wall Street banks," she said in the ad. "My opponent did."
Edwards has the support of Emily's List, a pro-choice organization,
reports The Nation.
The Washington Post endorsed Van Hollen in the race, saying Van Hollen "could be a real force for accomplishment" while Edwards would "reinforce Congress' tendency toward stalemate across party lines."
"It's really nothing against him," said Edwards supporter Roxie Herbekian, about Van Hollen. Edwards, she said, brings "the diversity we need and want to see to the Senate."
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.