Four candidates for Maryland’s 4th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives spoke in a candidate forum on April 19 sponsored by the Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club.
Joseph Gomes, Shavonne Hedgepeth, Jakeya Johnson and Jonathan White will compete in the Democratic primary on June 23. Candidates Khyre Edwards, Anthony Field and incumbent Glenn Ivey did not appear.
Forum Format
The candidates took questions previously submitted by audience members. Moderator and club member Pat Wickersty organized and combined the questions by topic. Each candidate answered every question, rotating speaker order.
Candidate Intros
Gomes is a social worker and small business owner, focused on issues affecting working-class families, including the cost of food, health and housing. Having experienced life as an immigrant, Gomes wants to serve his community. “My children attend Roosevelt High School. The entire area needs to be a safe environment for kids.”
Hedgepeth, working for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in capital planning, helps manage multi-billion-dollar public investments and interacts with the federal government on funding infrastructure. Prince George’s County was hit hardest by federal cuts, she said, and now it is time for proactive planning to rebuild and strengthen.
Johnson, an administrator and union steward at a philanthropic nonprofit, recommended collaboration with communities, who know what they need. “Often decisions are reactions made after the fact,” she said, “and that needs to change.”
White, a retired social worker/disaster responder with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, described caring for immigrant children and his demotion for defying orders during Trump’s first term. He is one of 300,000 federal workers who have left during Trump’s second term. “The federal government is the lifeblood of employment and the foundation of middle-class success in Prince George’s County,” he said, and new laws are needed “to make sure career positions are not politicized.”
Questions for Candidates
1) Would you accept donations from AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee)?
All candidates present denied taking donations from AIPAC or any other large corporate donors.
Hedgepeth and White both noted that while they won’t accept AIPAC money, Glenn Ivey does, saying AIPAC is his biggest funder.
2) With a Republican majority in the House, how will you work across the aisle? What steps should the party take?
Opinions differed, with Gomes emphasizing cooperation, Hedgepeth open to specific collaborations, and Johnson and White focused on constituent concerns and progressive goals.
Johnson said bipartisanship for its own sake just moves Democrats further to the right, believing it better to co-govern with the people.
White said Republicans win because Democratic leaders are weak, so it is time to abolish seniority and have new leaders.
Gomes said that Democrats and Republicans must come together for the good of the citizens.
Hedgepeth said bipartisan support has accomplished immigration reform and some other important changes. New approaches should include ending continuing resolutions and focusing on community project funding.
3) How will you prioritize spending our resources?
White said the problem is revenue, not spending, because we don’t tax the wealthy. Agencies need to be rebuilt to serve people’s needs.
Gomes wants to focus on young people and education.
Hedgepeth said federal dollars are available if needs are addressed creatively, for example using the land around Metro transit facilities for housing.
Johnson said that first, Citizens United must be overturned and second, tax the wealthy. Only then will the government respond to the people.
4) How can you ensure continued contact with constituents?
Gomes said he would focus on family and community.
Hedgepeth emphasized her constituent council of 15 residents across the district, her constituent dashboard reporting specific actions and town halls for in-person accountability.
Johnson recommended town halls with unfiltered questions at least once a quarter.
White said accountability means honesty, following through and not giving the privileged access.
5) How do you feel about and work with different wings of the Democratic party, moderate and progressive alike? Would you vote for impeachment and could you work with the other side?
Hedgepeth suggested being realistic about what can actually be achieved, promoting progressive ideas and leveraging fatigue among Republicans.
Johnson and White saw no realistic strategy for impeachment with so much allegiance to the president but still, Democrats must bring articles of impeachment for every violation.
Gomes said members of government should listen to each other and the citizens and compromise.
6) If one of you becomes the clear front runner, will the others drop out to improve chances against Ivey?
All the candidates present agreed to step aside and support the most likely competitor. Hedgepeth cautioned, however, that the Democratic party’s influence and outcomes can be unclear.
7) Congress has oversight of ICE and their activities and warehouses. What would you do to get ICE off the streets?
Hedgepeth would abolish ICE, but moreover, address the origins of the problem growing out of fear, and make sure people can live here with dignity.
Johnson said ICE has ravaged our communities in extreme human rights violations so ICE must be abolished along with other government enablers.
White recommended that immigration courts should be real courts and state attorneys general should prosecute federal violations.
Gomes said that ICE must work in a disciplined way, not with inhumane treatment.
8) Many questions showed concern about vulnerable people, including Lebanese, Ukrainian, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent or any person wanting security and dignity, as well as those worried about AI affecting jobs or society. People are struggling and how can we help them?
Johnson said government’s role is to make people’s lives better, including raising the minimum wage and providing universal comprehensive health care, not funding wars.
White said a $27 minimum wage, free health care, free trade school and accessible housing could be funded by taking back what billionaires have looted. It is all made worse by the anti-DEI assault on rights, he said.
Gomes said people who are struggling deserve respect and a happy life, and the government needs to pay attention to those needing help the most.
Hedgepeth said that, as human beings, we have to protect the most vulnerable. She felt Maryland has done a pretty good job but with problems like health care deserts and food deserts, solutions have to be well planned and executed.
Closing Statements
White said this election can change things, in conjunction with protesting and community efforts.
Johnson asked the audience to remember which candidates did not show up, and to consider who will actually fight for the people and future generations.
Hedgepeth warned that restoring what has been lost will not be easy or fast, but community is the end game.
Gomes said he will work to give opportunities for children and working people who are struggling.
Primary Significance
In the November 3 general election, the winner of this Democratic primary will probably prevail over the Republican opponent, given District 4’s deep-blue voting history. With all 435 House seats up for election, the nationwide November election will affect the partisan balance, currently very close, of the 120th Congress.
