Congressional Black Caucus Elects Youngest Chairman In 31 Years

The Congressional Black Caucus recently chose its new chairman, and he’s one of the youngest in the history of the organization to be selected for the position.

The CBC selected Representative Cedric Richmond over Representative Yvette Clarke as its 25th chairman by a vote of 28-11. Richmond, who is 43 years old, will be the youngest CBC chair in 31 years, with the late Mickey Leland being the only other chair who was younger (41) when he was sworn in in 1985.

“I’m honored and humbled by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me to serve as chair of this revered caucus, the conscience and intellect of the Congress,” Richmond said in a statement. “As we move into a new Congress, and the onset of a new [presidential] administration, our caucus will remain committed to the values that have made the CBC among the most influential institutions in the nation.”

Richmond has represented New Orleans since arriving in Congress in 2011. As the new CBC chairman Richmond will lead during the first two years of the Trump administration, alongside the largest group of African Americans in Congress in history to be sworn in.

By the time Donald Trump arrives in the White House 52 African Americans will be sworn in to the 115th Congress on January 3, and 50 of them are expected to be members of the CBC. This will make Richmond the leader of the largest Black Caucus in history.

“We owe it to the communities we serve that have many needs to give lots of deliberation to every move that we make, and we have to be very careful in how we go forward,” Richmond said in an interview with The Root in regards to Trump. “We are very concerned about the start of the administration, and who he’s picked and what they have symbolized, but this is the administration we will have to deal with. You can expect the loyal opposition regarding who we are and the people we represent.”