Four prominent current and former Congressional Black Caucus members have thrown their support behind Martin O’Malley’s campaign to lead the Democratic National Committee as the race enters its final phase. The endorsements were announced on Monday, underscoring a key moment in the closely watched contest.
The backing of O’Malley came from leading figures in the political arena, including Marcia Fudge of Ohio, who served as the secretary of housing and urban development in the Biden administration and chaired the Congressional Black Caucus during her tenure in Congress. Joining Fudge in endorsing O’Malley were Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the former chair of the House committee that probed the January 6th riots at the Capitol, and Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver of Missouri. The support for O’Malley extended to the Congressional Black Caucus Institute board member Lacy Johnson.
In a statement exclusively provided to NBC News, the Black leaders emphasized the need for transformative change within the Democratic Party. “Democrats are at a crossroads and we need a change agent now,” the statement read, encapsulating the urgency felt by the endorsers in their decision to back O’Malley.
Responding to the endorsements, O’Malley expressed gratitude, calling the support a “high honor” in a released statement. The former governor of Maryland, who previously ran for president in 2016 and most recently led the Social Security Administration, has positioned his candidacy for DNC chair on a platform centered around addressing everyday issues and leveraging his operational expertise.
With less than a month remaining in the campaign for DNC chairmanship, last week saw Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York throw his weight behind another contender, Ben Wikler, the Democratic Party chair of Wisconsin. Schumer’s endorsement marked a significant development in the five-way race, with the influential Democrat becoming the most prominent figure to publicly declare his support.
The competition for DNC chair also includes candidates such as Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair who heads the Minnesota state party; James Skoufis, a New York state senator; and individuals without prior elected office or state party leadership experience, such as author and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson.
The upcoming election for DNC chair is scheduled to take place on February 1st in Baltimore, with multiple candidate forums set to kick off this week. As the deadline approaches, candidates are required to secure signatures from at least 40 DNC members by the end of the month to qualify for the final leg of the competition.
The endorsements from Congressional Black Caucus members represent a pivotal moment in O’Malley’s bid for DNC leadership, underscoring the diverse support he has garnered within the party. As the race intensifies and the contenders make their final pitches to DNC members, the backing of influential figures like Fudge, Thompson, Cleaver, and Johnson could prove crucial in shaping the outcome of the closely watched contest.
