Black Caucus wants top House leadership post in case of Democratic shakeup

Black Caucus wants top House leadership post in case of Democratic shakeup Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.), chairman of the Congressional Bl...

Black Caucus wants top House leadership post in case of Democratic shakeup


Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill. (Andrew Harnik/AP) November 1 at 5:32 PM

The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus told his House Democratic colleagues Thursday that if Democrats shake up their leadership after next Tuesday’s midterm elections, a black lawmaker should hold one of the top two positions.

That declaration, delivered in a letter from Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.), added a fresh layer of intrigue to an unsettled House leadership picture. With independent political forecasters predicting Democrats as prohibitive favorites to win back the House majority, lawmakers are jockeying for position â€" even as the top three party leaders have made it clear that they intend to keep serving.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said she would pursue a second campaign for the speaker’s gavel, and Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) would seek to move up to majority leader and majority whip, respectively.

Richmond stopped short of challenging that lockstep promotion scenario Friday but said that “if there is any change in our top leadership positions,” the Congressional Black Caucus would “endorse African-American representation in at least one of the top two positions of elected House Democratic Caucus leadership.”

He cited a “lack of appreciation” within the party for the caucus’s recent efforts to turn out black voters and otherwise support the party’s political operations. He specifically cited the effort of Clyburn, a former CBC chairman.

“What we need n ow is the reciprocity we’ve collectively earned,” Richmond wrote in the letter, first reported by Politico, adding, “African Americans deserve more than a simple gesture of gratitude â€" they deserve representation at the apex of the party’s infrastructure.”

The ascension of Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn is hardly assured, however, with a handful of sitting House Democrats opposing Pelosi and dozens more Democratic candidates publicly signaling discomfort with her leadership. Pelosi falling short could prompt a scenario where the CBC’s demand could become an important factor.

Representatives for Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn declined to comment Thursday. A spokeswoman for Richmond did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Clyburn has been flirting with taking a higher-profile role for months, floating himself as a “tran sitional” speaker if Pelosi falls short. But he has also made clear that he would not seek to upset the existing apple cart.

That, according to several Democratic aides familiar with internal caucus politics, has frustrated younger CBC members such as Richmond and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), who want to take a larger role in the direction of the party caucus. But those members have been reluctant themselves to take on Pelosi, who has cultivated a good relationship with the CBC.

Source: Google News | Netizen 24 United States