Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., on Tuesday asked House Democrats to delay a vote for the next chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after he was admitted to the hospital for a bacterial infection.
Maloney’s caucus is scheduled to hold a private vote Wednesday regarding its leadership team before the start of the next Congress. He is a candidate to head the DCCC, which works to recruit and elect Democrats to the lower chamber.
“I had intended to stand for election to a leadership position this week, but life had other plans for me. I’ve always been blessed with good health, but this condition is going to require a few days of intensive treatment,” Maloney said on Tuesday in a statement, according to the Journal News and The Hill.
“With deep respect for my supporters and colleagues, I felt it was improper to continue a leadership run at this time, unless the election can be postponed until a later date. I’ll be enthusiastically re-joining my colleagues soon to get to work on the important issues of the day,” said the former Clinton White House aide, who was hospitalized again Monday after feeling unwell on Sunday.
Maloney, who is receiving intravenous antibiotic treatments at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, reported having the same infection in September, which spread to his internal organs. He is vying for DCCC chairman against Reps. Cheri Bustos of Illinois, Suzan DelBene of Washington, and Denny Heck of Washington.
Politico reported Tuesday that the decision to postpone the vote would be made by the newly elected chairman of the Democratic Caucus. That race — between Reps. Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Barbara Lee of California — is also due to take place on Wednesday.
Maloney, 52, joined Congress in 2012. He unsuccessfully ran in September for the New York Democratic Party’s nomination for state attorney general.
