Democrat Donna Edwards is the prohibitive favorite to win today’s special election in the 4th district against Republican Peter James. The two candidates are vying to fill the remainder of Rep. Albert Wynn’s (D) term in the suburban Washington, D.C., district.

Shortly after his devastating, 25-point loss to Edwards in the February Democratic primary, Wynn announced he would resign his Congressional seat early to take a lucrative lobbying job. To fill the seat quickly, the Maryland General Assembly gave Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) the authority to call a special election without holding a primary.

With Edwards also expected to cruise to victory in November, a victory today will put the nonprofit executive in office several months early and allow her to accrue seniority over freshmen who come to Capitol Hill for the 111th Congress.