Cedric Richmond

Cedric Levon Richmond (born September 13, 1973)[1] is an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district since 2011. His district includes most of New Orleans.

Cedric Richmond
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded byJoseph Cao
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 101st district
In office
January 6, 2000 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byNaomi White Farve
Succeeded byWesley Bishop
Personal details
Born
Cedric Levon Richmond

(1973-09-13) September 13, 1973
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Raquel Greenup
(
m. 2015)
Children1
EducationMorehouse College (BA)
Tulane University (JD)
WebsiteHouse website

From 2017 to 2019,[2] Richmond served as Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.[3][4] He is the only Democratic Representative from Louisiana serving in the House. He had previously served several terms as State Representative from New Orleans to the Louisiana State House, from 2000 to 2011. In 2019, he was named the first national co-chairman of the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign.[5]

Early life and education

Richmond was born in New Orleans in 1973 and raised in New Orleans East, where he attended public schools. His father died when he was seven years old. His mother was a public school teacher and small business owner. Richmond graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School. He received a B.A. degree from Morehouse College, and a J.D. degree from Tulane School of Law. He also completed an executive program at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.[6] While at Morehouse, Richmond played college baseball as a pitcher for the Morehouse Maroon Tigers in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.[7]

Louisiana legislature
Then State Representative Richmond with FEMA officials and others

Richmond was elected and served as the Louisiana State Representative for District 101 (Orleans Parish) from 2000 to 2011.[8] He was elected shortly after his 27th birthday and was one of the youngest legislators ever to serve in Louisiana when he took office. He served as the Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and a member of the Ways and Means, House Executive, and Legislative Audit Advisory committees.[9]

U.S. House of Representatives

In 2010, Richmond was elected to the US House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district for the first time. He took office in 2011. He was reelected in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018.

On June 9, 2014, Richmond introduced the Honor Flight Act (H.R. 4812; 113th Congress), a bill that would direct the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a process for providing expedited and dignified passenger screening services for veterans traveling on an Honor Flight to visit war memorials that had been built to honor their service.[10]

That year Richmond defended his Republican colleague Vance McAllister, who had become embroiled in an alleged adultery scandal. It was a rare across-the-aisle gesture. Richmond said that he associated the controversy around McAllister with "gotcha moments" in which the "two parties in this country have gone overboard...and taken joy in the pain of their supposed opponents".[11]

Richmond has been active in the Congressional Black Caucus, made up of African-American legislators who work together to have their views heard. On November 30, 2016, he was elected chair of the Caucus for the 115th United States Congress.[12]

On December 18 2019, Richmond voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump.[13]

Elections
2008
See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana § District 2

Richmond came in third place in the seven-candidate primary election for the Democratic nomination for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, behind U.S. Representative William J. Jefferson and television newscaster Helena Moreno. During a primary debate, Richmond accused Moreno of drug use, and she attacked him based on his disqualification from the 2005 New Orleans City Council "D" District election.[14]

Later in 2008, the Louisiana Supreme Court suspended Richmond's law license for six months in a 5–2 decision. It found that he had falsified a sworn statement claiming more than two years' residency in New Orleans's "D" District in order to be eligible for the district's city council seat.[15]

2010
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana § District 2

Richmond challenged Republican incumbent Anh “Joseph” Cao for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district. Richmond was the first candidate in the 2010 elections to have President Barack Obama appear in a television ad on his behalf.[16]

Most analysts considered Richmond a strong favorite to retake this seat for the Democrats, even in what was forecast to be a Republican year nationally. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+25, the 2nd was the most Democratic district in the country to be represented by a Republican. In 2008 Obama had carried it with 74% of the vote, his fifth-best performance in a Southern district and his 35th best nationally.

Richmond won the November 2 election with 65% of the vote.[17]

2012
See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana § District 2

Committee assignments

Congressional caucuses

Controversies

In January 2017 Richmond became involved in an argument with Republican lawmakers over whether a particular painting should continue to hang in the Capitol. The painting in question shows police officers apprehending suspects, and the police are depicted as pigs. It was painted by someone from Richmond's district who had won a local award, and Republicans objected to it.[19] Richmond said that escalating the issue might "open up Pandora's Box" because there are other paintings that some people might also find offensive.[20]

In March 2017 Richmond was criticized for making a crude joke about a controversial photograph of Kellyanne Conway kneeling on the Oval Office couch. Richmond appeared to compare Conway to Monica Lewinsky, saying, "I really just want to know what was going on there, because she really looked kind of familiar there in that position there. But don't answer. And I don't want you to refer back to the ’90s.” Richmond later said the joke was not meant to be sexual.[21] “Since some people have interpreted my joke to mean something that it didn’t I think it is important to clarify what I meant,” he said in a statement. “Where I grew up saying that someone is looking or acting ‘familiar’ simply means that they are behaving too comfortably.” [21]

Sports
From left, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Michael Bennet, Senator Tom Udall, Former NBA player Muggsy Bogues, Congressman Joseph Crowley and Congressman Richmond.

Richmond plays in the annual Congressional Baseball Game. He was the starting Democratic pitcher for each of the five years since his election and the Democrats won each game. He had a 2.85 earned run average, 1.67 walks plus hits per inning pitched and 45 strikeouts in his 27 innings pitched in that span. In 2016 Republican team manager Joe Barton called him the best player to ever participate in the game.[22] Richmond lost his first game in 2016, a day after participating through the night in the 2016 United States House of Representatives sit-in.[7]

Electoral history

U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District November Election, 2016[23]

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Kenneth Cutno Democratic 28,855 (10%) Defeated
Melvin Holden Democratic 57,125 (20%) Defeated
Cedric Richmond Democratic 198,289 (70%) Won

U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District-November Election, 2014[23]

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
David Brooks No Party 16,327 (7%) Defeated
Samuel Davenport Libertarian 15,237 (7%) Defeated
Gary Landrieu Democratic 37,805 (17%) Defeated
Cedric Richmond Democratic 152,201 (69%) Won

U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District-November Election, 2012[23]

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Josue Larose Republican 11,345 (4%) Defeated
Caleb Trotter Libertarian 6,791 (2%) Defeated
Dwayne Bailey Republican 38,801 (14%) Defeated
Gary Landrieu Democratic 71,916 (25%) Defeated
Cedric Richmond Democratic 158,501 (55%) Won

U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District-Democratic Party, 2010[24] August 28, 2010

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Eugene Green Democratic 2,497 (10%) Defeated
Gary Johnson Democratic 1,911 (8%) Defeated
Juan LaFonta Democratic 5,166 (21%) Defeated
Cedric Richmond Democratic 14,622 (60%) Won

U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District-Democratic Party, 2008[24]

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, November 2, 2004

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
James Carter Democratic 9,286 (13%) Defeated
Troy "C" Carter Democratic 5,797 (8%) Defeated
William J. Jefferson Democratic 17,510 (25%) Run-off
Byron L. Lee Democratic 8,979 (13%) Defeated
Helena Moreno Democratic 13,795 (20%) Run-off
Cedric Richmond Democratic 12,095 (17%) Defeated
Kenya J. H. Smith Democratic 1,749 (3%) Defeated

Louisiana State Representative, 101st District, 2007[24]

October 20, 2007

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Cedric L. Richmond Democratic 2,944 (73%) Elected
Roland Barthe Democratic 1,107 (27%) Defeated

Louisiana State Representative, 101st District, 2003[24]

October 4, 2003

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Cedric Richmond Democratic 6,943 (78%) Elected
Willie Jones, Jr. Democratic 1,906 (22%) Defeated

Louisiana State Representative, 101st District, 1999[24]

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, October 23, 1999

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Wesley T. Bishop Democratic 1,241 (14%) Defeated
Naomi White Farve Democratic 1,835 (21%) Defeated
Cedric Richmond Democratic 3,480 (40%) Run-off
Eddie Scott Democratic 2,119 (24%) Run-off

Second Ballot, November 20, 1999

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome
Cedric Richmond Democratic 3,980 (63%) Elected
Eddie Scott Democratic 2,361 (37%) Defeated

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. https://lasentinel.net/congressional-black-caucus-chair-cedric-richmond-say-goodbye-to-seat-as-he-prepares-to-pass-chair-to-rep-karen-bass.html
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  5. Glueck, Katie (May 31, 2019). "Cedric Richmond, Biden's New Co-Chairman, Sees a Path to the Nomination in the South". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  6. "Meet Cedric Richmond | Cedric Richmond for Congress - Louisiana 2nd District". Cedricrichmond.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  7. Kane, Paul (June 14, 2017). "Analysis | Congressional ballgame builds bipartisan friendship. Exhibit A: Steve Scalise and Cedric Richmond". Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  8. "Voters pick Bishop, Mills in legis races | WBRZ News 2 Louisiana : Baton Rouge, LA |". Wbrz.com. January 23, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  9. "About Cedric". cedricrichmond.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  10. "H.R. 4812 - Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  11. Alpert, Bruce (April 11, 2014). "Richmond reaches out to McAllister: He admonishes both parties". Times-Picayune. New Orleans. p. A3. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  12. Rainey, Richard (November 30, 2016). "Cedric Richmond elected chair of Congressional Black Caucus". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  13. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12
  14. Donze, Frank (September 26, 2008). "Moreno, Richmond trade barbs at 2nd District talk". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
  15. Donze, Frank (December 2, 2008). "State Rep. Cedric Richmond's law license suspended". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
  16. Burns, Alexander (October 4, 2010). "La.'s Richmond gets Obama's 1st ad". Politico. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  17. Krupa, Michelle; Donze, Frank (November 2, 2010). "Cedric Richmond wins 2nd District House race; Joseph Cao concedes". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  18. "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  19. Marcos, Cristina (January 13, 2017). "Democrat re-hangs painting depicting cops as pigs". The Hill. Retrieved January 13, 2017. The painting has inflamed tensions on Capitol Hill between the two parties. The Hill asked Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, if the painting would need someone to monitor it around the clock to prevent further removals. "No," Richmond replied. "We might just have to kick somebody's ass and stop them, though."
  20. "CBC: 'We may just have to kick somebody's ass' over painting removal". Politico. January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2017. Richmond said any escalation of the issue might "open up Pandora's Box." “I’m looking at some paintings that people could probably find some offense to," he said. "So you just open up Pandora’s Box to, I think, anarchy when it comes to the art around this building." "I think it would be a bad move. I think politically it would be an awful move to do that," he continued.
  21. Heil, Emily. "Rep. Cedric Richmond made an awkward joke about Kellyanne Conway, but he says it wasn't meant to be sexual". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  22. Gangitano, Alex (June 23, 2016). "Cedric Richmond: Congressional Baseball's Best Player Ever?". Roll Call. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  23. "Louisiana Secretary of State - Live Election Results". voterportal.sos.la.gov. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  24. "Elections Division". Louisiana Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Joseph Cao		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district
2011–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
G. K. Butterfield		 Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Karen Bass
Party political offices
Preceded by
John Lewis
as House Democratic Senior Chief Deputy Whip		 House Democratic Assistant Majority Whip
2019–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Steven Palazzo		 United States Representatives by seniority
173rd		 Succeeded by
Martha Roby
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