Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond has joined President-elect Joe Biden‘s administration as a senior adviser, the Biden team announced in a press release provided to theGrio.
Additionally, Richmond will serve as director of The White House Office of Public Engagement, which was run by Valerie Jarrett during the administration of President Barack Obama. The department is responsible for coordinating events and communications involving the general population.
Richmond will be leaving his seat in the House of Representatives at the start of what was to be his sixth term.
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The co-chair of the Biden-Harris transition team, Richmond was reportedly key in helping the former vice president secure important endorsements, including one from Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a nod said to have been key in influencing that state’s primary race and securing Biden the presidential nomination.
So far, Richmond will be one of the first sitting members of Congress announced to be joining the administration. The 47-year-old was also once chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. As a member of the house, Richmond also served on the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House Committee on the Judiciary, the House Democratic Assistant to the Majority Whip, a member of the New Democratic Coalition and, most recently, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
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Richmond, who is a graduate of Morehouse College and Tulane University School of Law, helped to enact landmark criminal justice reform for Louisiana’s 2nd District and ensured that constituents were prepared for emergencies and natural disasters through his oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the House Committee on Homeland Security.
A special election in his district, a Democratic stronghold that includes New Orleans, would take place to fill his seat.
According to Bloomberg, a number of Democrats are already considering running for the seat, including Karen Carter Peterson, a state senator and vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, state Sen. Cleo Fields and Natalie Robottom, former president of St. John the Baptist Parish.
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In an interview with CBS on Sunday, Richmond praised Biden and predicted a new era of bipartisanship, maintaining would “be a different kind of president.”
“I think he’s going to be able to bring House members from the Republican side, House members, Senate Republicans together on legislation,” said Richmond. “He served with many of them.”
Biden is expected to announce that campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon will join his administration as deputy chief of staff, and campaign adviser Steve Ricchetti will also be placed in a senior role.
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