Jayapal Joins Pocan As Co-Chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus
Ro Khanna replaces Jayapal as the caucus’s first vice chair
Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan will serve as co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 116th Congress.
The CPC — which will have more than 90 members next year — held its leadership elections Thursday, which also saw California Rep. Ro Khanna chosen to replace Jayapal as first vice chair.
Minnesota Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar was elected CPC whip.
Pocan currently co-chairs the CPC with Arizona Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, who is stepping down from caucus leadership because he will take over as House Natural Resources chairman next year.
“The American people sent a Blue Wave — powered by progressives — to Capitol Hill and we fully intend to respect the electorate’s decision by presenting a bold, forward-looking agenda,” Pocan said in a statement.
Jayapal said in her own statement that the progressive movement is as strong as ever, and she looks forward to the CPC leveraging that “to deliver policies that benefit a diverse, inclusive and just America.”
The CPC also elected a slate of vice chairswho serve in various liaison roles to other Democratic factions:
- Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressional Black Caucus liaison
- Texas Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar, Congressional Hispanic Caucus liaison
- California Rep. Rep. Mark Takano, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus liaison
- Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, Native American Caucus liaison
- Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues liaison
- Rhode Island Rep. Rep. David Cicilline, LGBT Equality Caucus liaison
- Colorado Rep.-elect Joe Neguse, new member liaison
- Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Seniors Taskforce liaison
- New Jersey Rep. Donald Norcross, labor liaison
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