Black caucus PAC shuns endorsement of Donna Edwards [View all]

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The political action committee behind the Congressional Black Caucus passed on endorsing Rep. Donna Edwards in her Maryland Senate primary — a public snub of the African-American lawmaker who has a contentious relationship with many of her colleagues.
The CBC PAC voted late Thursday evening during a hastily called meeting to table the question of endorsing Edwards in her primary challenge against Rep. Chris Van Hollen, according to a half-dozen sources familiar with the meeting.
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The endorsement is unlikely to be voted on again, multiple members of the PAC’s board said.
Passing on an endorsement for a fellow black caucus lawmaker in a competitive primary is unusual for the CBC PAC. Sources said the PAC felt uncomfortable giving Edwards a nod of support after hearing from local elected African-American officials in Maryland who support Van Hollen.
Sources said former Rep. Al Wynn — whom Edwards unseated in 2008 — noted her lack of endorsements among black officials in the state, making the case that the CBC PAC should not trump the opinion of local elected representatives.
“The room accepted this as reasonable,” said one Democratic lawmaker in attendance. “It is premature to weigh in when black leadership is heavily leaning toward Van Hollen.”
The sources said Edwards’ troubled relationship with many of her black caucus members was also a factor.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/black-caucus-pac-donna-edwards-219214#ixzz3zzkIGIHK