Wynn, Albert R. (Albert Russell), 1951-

Dates:

Birth 1951-09-10

Gender:

Male

Nationality: Americans,

Language: English,

Biographical notes:

Albert Russell Wynn (born September 10, 1951) is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 4th district of Maryland from 1993 to 2008.

Wynn was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was educated at the University of Pittsburgh, Howard University, and Georgetown University Law Center. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, Wynn was initiated as a member of the Beta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Soon after graduating, Wynn became director of the Prince George's County Consumer Protection Commission. In 1982, he founded his own law firm. He then spent a decade in the Maryland General Assembly, serving in the state house from 1983 to 1987 and in the state senate from 1987 to 1993.

Wynn entered the Democratic primary for the 4th District in 1992. The 4th had been reconfigured as a black-majority district after the 1990 Census, and the previous incumbent, six-term Democrat Tom McMillen, had been drawn out of the district. Wynn won a crowded seven-way primary by 1,300 votes, all but assuring him of election in the heavily Democratic district. He won the general election in November with 75 percent of the vote and was reelected seven times, never dropping below 75 percent of the vote.

In 2006, Wynn faced a stiff primary challenge from Donna F. Edwards, a lawyer and non–profit director. He prevailed by three percentage points (roughly 3,000 votes). Nevertheless, in the general election, Representative Wynn won re–election, with 80 percent of the vote. In a 2008 Democratic primary rematch, Edwards defeated Wynn with 60 percent of the vote. Wynn resigned from the House on May 31, 2008. After his resignation, Wynn became a partner of Dickstein Shapiro, a large lobbying firm whose clients include the tobacco, entertainment, energy, and software industries as well as the Teamsters.