May 25, 2016
Rep. Elijah Cummings Appointed Chair of Democratic Party’s Platform Drafting Committee
Longtime Maryland Congressman, Elijah Cummings has been named chair of the Democratic Party’s Platform Drafting Committee. Cummings was appointed by DNC Chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
According to a statement from the DNC, the committee is “responsible for developing and managing the process through which the Democratic Party’s National Platform is established.”
“The Democratic Party has always fought to create a better life for all Americans,” Rep. Elijah Cummings said in a statement. “We will be going to unprecedented lengths to ensure that the drafting of our party’s platform is the most inclusive, open and representative process in the long history of our two major parties.”
Cummings’ position as chair means he will likely find himself moderating policy disputes between Sanders’ and Clinton’s supporters on the committee.
Cummings endorsed Clinton this past April, and has been a reliable ally to the former Secretary of State throughout the Benghazi hearings. As the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee of Benghazi, Cummings has been extremely vocal regarding his disdain for the never-ending hearings, calling them a “taxpayer-funded fishing expedition.”
Including Cummings, five out of the 15 committee members are black: Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Barbara Lee, State Rep. Alicia Reece, and Dr. Cornel West.
Maya Harris, Clinton’s senior policy adviser, is also on the committee. Harris will represent the Clinton campaign as a non-voting member.