Representative Elijah Cummings, of Baltimore, died early Thursday morning at the age of 68.
According to his office, Cummings passed away at Johns Hopkins Hospital at 2:45 a.m. from “complications concerning longstanding health challenges.
Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, wife and chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party, said in a statement, “He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity… I loved him deeply and will miss him dearly.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the flags at the Capitol to be flown at half staff in his memory. The White House, too, lowered its flag.
In her weekly press conference on Thursday, Pelosi said she was “devastated by the loss” of Cummings, who she referred to as “the North Star” of the House. She said she may rename a bill to lower prescription drug costs in his honor.
“He was not just a great congressman, he was a great man,” House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on MSNBC Thursday morning.
Cummings was one of President Barack Obama‘s first supporters and top civil rights activist.
Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. Young said in a statement that “people throughout the world have lost a powerful voice and one of the strongest and most gifted crusaders for social justice.”
President Donald Trump praised Cummings’ “strength, passion and wisdom” in a tweet, despite the insults he hurled at Cummings this summer.
“My warmest condolences to the family and many friends of Congressman Elijah Cummings. I got to see first hand the strength, passion and wisdom of this highly respected political leader. His work and voice on so many fronts will be very hard, if not impossible, to replace!” the president tweeted shortly before 9 a.m.
The House Oversight and Reform Committee chairman, a Democrat and 23-year House veteran, was a key figure in the impeachment inquiry into Mr. Trump and a recent target of intense criticism from the president.
What will happen to Rep. Cummings seat?
According to The Baltimore Sun, Cummings’ seat will remain vacant until a special election is held.
Larry Hogan, the state’s Republican governor, has 10 days to officially call for the special election, which will take place no earlier than 65 days after that, which would be late February.
As for Cummings’ role on the House Oversight committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York will fill in as acting chair until Democrats choose a permanent leader.
The timing for when that will happen is unclear, according to a senior Democratic leadership aide who spoke to The Sun on condition of anonymity.
Prayers go out for Rep. Cummings family and friends. Rest in peace, sir and thank you for your service.
