So much for equity and equality. Withdrew his bid, obviously under pressure.
What happened: Cicilline had launched a longshot bid against Clyburn for the leadership position, but ultimately abandoned it Thursday. In a moving speech at a closed caucus meeting, sources familiar with his remarks said Cicilline addressed ongoing discrimination and the fight for equality and added he received assurances from the incoming leadership that LGBTQ voices would be heard.
Cicilline’s pitch: Cicilline had pitched his run as a way to bring LGBTQ representation to the top rung of House Democrats’ leadership — a necessary viewpoint amid recent violence against LGBTQ Americans, he argued. He would have been the highest-ranking openly LGBTQ House lawmaker in history if he had been elected. His decision had sparked concern among the powerful voting bloc of the Congressional Black Caucus, who’d officially backed Clyburn earlier in the week. Cicilline had previously mounted a bid for the assistant leader position two years ago, losing to Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).
Jim Clyburn was elected to a new leadership position after David Cicilline pulled his short-lived bid to challenge the Democratic leader.
What happened: Cicilline had launched a longshot bid against Clyburn for the leadership position, but ultimately abandoned it Thursday. In a moving speech at a closed caucus meeting, sources familiar with his remarks said Cicilline addressed ongoing discrimination and the fight for equality and added he received assurances from the incoming leadership that LGBTQ voices would be heard.
Cicilline’s pitch: Cicilline had pitched his run as a way to bring LGBTQ representation to the top rung of House Democrats’ leadership — a necessary viewpoint amid recent violence against LGBTQ Americans, he argued. He would have been the highest-ranking openly LGBTQ House lawmaker in history if he had been elected. His decision had sparked concern among the powerful voting bloc of the Congressional Black Caucus, who’d officially backed Clyburn earlier in the week. Cicilline had previously mounted a bid for the assistant leader position two years ago, losing to Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).
Jim Clyburn was elected to a new leadership position after David Cicilline pulled his short-lived bid to challenge the Democratic leader.
