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Clarke, Richmond Officially Running for Black Caucus Chairmanship

Other CBC leaders also look to move up the ladder

New York Rep. Yvette D. Clarke is seeking the chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
New York Rep. Yvette D. Clarke is seeking the chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Reps. Yvette D. Clarke of New York and Cedric L. Richmond of Louisiana have both officially filed their intent to run for the chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus, according to a notice obtained by Roll Call. 

The CBC will elect its chairman and other leaders during an organizational meeting Wednesday around noon, following leadership elections for the  House Democratic Caucus. The CBC is mostly comprised of House Democrats, but Utah Republican Rep. Mia Love and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker are also members. 

Clarke, 52, and Richmond, 43, had both been mulling bids to chair the caucus but neither had made a final decision before the Thanksgiving break.

[Richmond Considering Bid to Lead Congressional Black Caucus

With Clarke, the current first vice chairwoman, seeking to move up the ladder, so too, are other CBC leaders. 

Current second vice chairman, Rep. André Carson of Indiana, 42, is running for first vice chairman and current secretary, Karen Bass of California, 63, is running for the second vice chairmanship. 

No CBC member has filed a letter of intent to run for secretary, according to the notice. The position would logically be filled by the current caucus whi, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has nominated Jeffries, 46, to serve as co-chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. 

[Pelosi Nominates Members for Leadership Positions]

Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore, 65, is running for whip.

Caucus members can only vote if they’re present for the meeting or hand-deliver an absentee ballot to current chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina by Tuesday. 

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