In another foray into foreign policy politics, she was one of five members of Congress arrested and taken into custody in late April outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington in a protest against that government's human rights record in Darfur.
Her involvement raised questions about what kind of representative Edwards intended to be: a gadfly or a workhorse, a bomb-thrower or a serious inside player?
"I want to do what's right by people in my congressional district and in the country," she said. "I think people, at this early stage ... would describe me as somebody who's really thoughtful and careful and who does her homework."
At this early stage, some Democratic activists also describe the ambitious newcomer as a future statewide candidate, one with significant potential in party politics.
"She's a true believer," which would be an advantage in a Democratic primary contest, said Eddie Eitches, president of an American Federation of Government Employees local.
Edwards admits that she doesn't see "congresswoman" as the last job title on her professional resume. But she laughs off speculation about a run some day for the Senate.
"Oh, gosh," she responded and, referring to herself in the third person, added that "she's going to do her job in the United States Congress, is what she's going to do."
That, and move soon into a new home - a luxury National Harbor condo that she fought to make part of the waterfront development.
