Cicilline drops bid for House Democratic leadership post

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline ended his campaign for the fourth-highest position among House Democratic leaders Thursday, a day after announcing the long-shot challenge.

Cicilline, D-RI, who has represented Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District since 2011, sent a letter to Democratic colleagues Wednesday asking them to support him to be Democratic assistant leader, a post that had been expected to go to longtime South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn.

But on Thursday morning, sources familiar with the leadership race said Cicilline had dropped his push for the post after receiving assurances from top Democrats that the LGBTQ community will be represented in the leadership team.

In his Wednesday letter to colleagues, Cicilline said House Democrats would benefit from having an openly gay member like him in leadership.

'With so much at stake, I think it is critical that the House Democratic leadership team fully reflect the diversity of our caucus and the American people by including an LBGTQ+ member at the leadership table, which is why I have decided to run for assistant leader," Cicilline wrote.

Democrats were expected to vote on who would be the new assistant leader Thursday.

Clyburn, 82, was Democratic whip, the third-ranked post in leadership, in then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership team. After Republicans won control of the House in last month's election, Pelosi and her top three lieutenants stepped down from their posts, but Clyburn said he wanted to become assistant leader.

Cicilline, 61, has been a co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and was an impeachment manager in the Senate trial of then-President Donald Trump.

In 2020, Cicilline ran for assistant speaker but was beaten by Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark.

Clark on Wednesday was elected House Democratic whip under new minority leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rep. Cicilline drops bid for Democratic assistant leader, fourth highest party position