Cedric Richmond, a senior adviser to President Biden, is expected to step down next month, becoming one of the first high-ranking White House officials to leave the administration as Democrats prepare for tough by-elections.
Mr Richmond briefed Biden on his intentions, according to Democrats familiar with the conversation. Mr Richmond is expected to enter the private sector, but will also be a senior adviser to the Democratic National Committee who has not built a close relationship with the White House.
“I am delighted that the President has entrusted me with helping to strengthen the stable work already being done in the DNC to ensure that Democrats increase their majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate and increase the number of Democratic governors in US capitals. across the country, Mr Richmond said in a statement Monday night, adding that he looked forward to expanding “the White House’s message as we move towards the by-elections”.
In his new role, Mr. Richmond is expected to travel around the country to raise funds for Democrats and act as a surrogate for the Biden administration.
Earlier Monday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki hinted at Mr Richmond’s new position, telling reporters that when the press had “something to announce, it would include another important role for Cedric Richmond,” something the president said is “excited and asked him to do it.”
A former Louisiana congressman and former chairman of the Black Caucus in Congress, Mr. Richmond was one of Mr. Biden’s earliest enthusiasts before the 2020 campaign, prompting him to run and then approving his candidacy.
After running for the presidency, Mr. Biden named Mr. Richmond a White House aide and a liaison with the business community, making him one of the most prominent African Americans in the administration.
The former MP, who has deep relations with Democrats in the House of Representatives, is also working on important issues, including suffrage and police reform, but has often sought to unite progressive activists and lawmakers at a time when his party has the smallest majority. Congress.
Mr. Richmond was one of a handful of high-ranking black officials in the White House and became close to the president because of their shared attachment to golf. He played a round in Mr. Biden’s hometown of Delaware last weekend.
Mr. Richmond will not completely leave Mr. Biden’s orbit. He will work with DNC President Jamie Harrison, who clashed with West Wing officials during his first year in office.
“We look forward to Cedric joining our already strong team as we continue to work closely with the White House and our sister committees to protect and expand our democratic majorities,” Harrison said in a statement.
Mr. Richmond is very close to Mr. Harrison’s political mentor, James E. Clayburn of South Carolina, and is expected to be a conduit between the committee, Congress and the White House.
Mr Richmond is unlikely to be the last senior White House aide to leave this year.
As Vice President Kamala Harris underwent the earliest change – losing key aides such as Simon Sanders and Tina Flurnoy – West Wing officials are also moving to leave.
Ms Psaki was also clear that she would leave the administration and a handful of other aides could also leave after the by-elections. Mr Biden’s King Jeffrey Zient has also recently resigned, and Gina McCarthy, the White House’s climate adviser, will do the same in the coming weeks.
Mr. Biden’s longtime adviser on communications, Anita Dunn, retired last year, but is expected to return to the White House later this year.
Add Comment