Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond was elected chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday.
Richmond, whose district includes most of New Orleans, has represented Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district since 2011. He will take the post at the start of the new congress in early January, replacing outgoing Chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C.
The influential caucus, which is mostly Democrats and exclusive to African-Americans, elected Richmond in a secret ballot.
“I’m honored and humbled by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me to serve as the chair of this revered caucus, the conscience and intellect of the Congress,” Richmond said in a statement, adding how the group looks to make progress on “voting rights, policing and criminal justice reform.”
Richmond’s victory came hours after House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi won re-election. Over Thanksgiving break, Richmond sent a letter to the California Democrat pushing back against her proposed leadership changes, worried that the CBC would lose power.
