A big congratulations to Donna Edwards for her victory in a special election on Tuesday to represent Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District. Earlier this year Donna defeated long-time incumbent Al Wynn to win the Democratic party nomination in the district, triggering his resignation. Her swearing-in on Thursday makes her Maryland’s first African American congresswoman; she will run in November for a two-year term.

Donna was one of our board members in the 1990s. She’s one of a number of remarkable people who have helped us as board members. A sampling of others includes:

* Jamin Raskin, a Maryland state senator and professor at the Washington College of Law

* Roxanne Qualls, former mayor of Cincinnati

* Dolores Huerta, much-honored labor leader in California

* George Pillsbury, policy director of the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network

* Larry Hansen, vice-president of the Joyce Foundation

* Clay Mulford, chief operating officer at the National Math and Science Initiative

* Matthew Cossolotto, co-founder of FairVote and author of All the World’s a Podium

* Rashad Robinson, GLAAD’s senior director of media programs

* Laura Liswood, CEO of the Council of Women’s World Leaders

* Kathy Spillar, executive editor of Ms. Magazine

Thanks to them all, and to the many others who have volunteered their time and energy to advance us toward the way democracy will be.

Other posts by Rob Richie

• Founding FairVote backer and Cincinnati legend Harris Weston dies - July 4th, 2009
• Sarah Palin's resignation to reduce women governors to six - July 3rd, 2009
• Delaware house votes 2 to 1 for National Popular Vote - 29th chamber in 18th state - June 24th, 2009
• Obama's political team: Expediency over principle in "working" Electoral College rather than reforming it - June 21st, 2009
• Special interests upset with instant runoff voting in San Francisco - and broader lessons - June 21st, 2009
• FairVote chair Krist Novoselic makes key point about rights of association in candidacy - June 17th, 2009
• Brennan Center's new report on universal registration joins FairVote in highlighting Canadian model - June 16th, 2009
• Instant runoff voting in Australia: Guest blogger Ben Raue - June 16th, 2009
• Washington, D.C. City council has chance to make D.C. a "beacon of democracy" - June 13th, 2009
• Slamdunk win in Minnesota Supreme Court highlights big week for instant runoff voting - June 12th, 2009