WASHINGTON _ Reps. Yvette D. Clarke of New York and Cedric L. Richmond of Louisiana have both officially filed their intent to run for chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, according to a notice obtained by Roll Call.
The CBC will elect its chair and other leaders during an organizational meeting Wednesday, following leadership elections for the House Democratic Caucus. The CBC is mostly composed of House Democrats, but Utah Republican Rep. Mia Love and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker are also members.
Clarke, 52, and Richmond, 43, had both been mulling bids to chair the caucus but neither had made a final decision before the Thanksgiving break.
With Clarke, the current first vice chair, seeking to move up the ladder, so too, are other CBC leaders.
Current second vice chair Rep. Andre Carson, 42, of Indiana is running for first vice chair and current secretary Karen Bass, 63, of California is running for second vice chair.
No CBC member has filed a letter of intent to run for secretary, according to the notice. The position would logically be filled by current caucus whip Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has nominated Jeffries, 46, to serve as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.
Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore, 65, is running for whip.
Caucus members can only vote if they're present for the meeting or hand deliver an absentee ballot to current chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina by Tuesday.
