Cicilline to Run for Assistant Democratic Leader

WASHINGTON – In a letter sent to his colleagues today, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Co-Chair David N. Cicilline (RI-01) announced his intent to run for Assistant Democratic Leader in the 116th Congress.

“In preparation for the next Congress, we need to make sure that we have a leadership team that can hit the ground running to pass our legislative agenda and to hold President Trump accountable for his actions.  In Committee and on the Floor, I’ve proven that I can go toe-to-toe with the other side of the aisle and that I won’t back down,” wrote Cicilline. “As a former mayor of a major city, I have the skills that are necessary to build coalitions and deliver results.  And as one of only six openly LGBT members of the House, I believe it is crucial that our leadership team represent and reflect the diversity and strength of the Democratic Party.”

If Democrats take back the majority this November the Assistant Democratic Leader position will be vacant. The position is elected by the Democratic Caucus and will be the fourth-ranking position if Democrats take back the House this November.

The full text of Cicilline’s letter is embedded below. A PDF copy can be downloaded by clicking here.

————————-

September 27, 2018

Dear Colleague:

Before we head into the final stretch, I wanted to thank you for all your input and support in helping the DPCC craft our “For the People” message.  While my main focus over the next 40 days is to do everything I can to help win back the House, I want to take a brief moment to discuss my interest in running for Assistant Democratic Leader if we win the majority this November.

As the first openly gay member elected to House Leadership, it has been an incredible honor to serve alongside Hakeem Jeffries and Cheri Bustos as one of the DPCC Co-Chairs this Congress.  For the past 18 months we have worked to develop our message from the bottom up, engaging the entire caucus and working directly with members from every corner of our party.  With your help, we created a message that everyone can use and that captures the essence of what it means to be a Democrat.

As a member of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, and Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I’ve had the honor of leading our caucus in the introduction of landmark legislation, including the Equality Act, the DISCLOSE Act, and the new Assault Weapons Ban.  In the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees, I’ve fought to hold President Trump accountable, get to the bottom of Russian interference in our elections, and maintain America’s moral leadership in the world.

In preparation for the next Congress, we need to make sure that we have a leadership team that can hit the ground running to pass our legislative agenda and to hold President Trump accountable for his actions.  In Committee and on the Floor, I’ve proven that I can go toe-to-toe with the other side of the aisle and that I won’t back down.  As a former mayor of a major city, I have the skills that are necessary to build coalitions and deliver results.  And as one of only six openly LGBT members of the House, I believe it is crucial that our leadership team represent and reflect the diversity and strength of the Democratic Party.

Thank you for your time and consideration.  I would be honored to earn your support to be the next Assistant Democratic Leader and to continue to represent you as part of House Leadership.  I look forward to discussing my candidacy with you when we return in November.

Sincerely,

David N. Cicilline

Member of Congress