The National Organization for Women (NOW) today announced its endorsement of Donna Edwards for Senate.
The National Organization for Women’s political action committee has endorsed Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) in a tough primary fight for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D).
“Barbara Mikulski may be retiring, but Maryland still needs a Senator with a strong record of fighting for women and families in Washington,” NOW president Terry O’Neill said in a statement.
Women’s groups and issues have played a major role in the campaign between Edwards and fellow Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen. Their first debate was a NOW forum. Edwards has argued that as a black woman, she would not just continue Mikulski’s legacy but bring much-needed diversity to the Senate.
As with seemingly everything in this race, the endorsement did not come without some controversy, in this case from the local and state NOW affiliates who advocated for no endorsement to be made because of strong support for both candidates in the race.
“NOW members in Montgomery County and throughout the state who support Congressman Chris Van Hollen will be unhappy with this decision,” local chapter Co-Presidents Holly Joseph and Jeannette Feldner said in a statement. They said that the state had recommended that NOW not endorse at all because of a split among members between the two candidates. “We are very disappointed,” they wrote.
