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Cicilline, an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, abandoned
the race against Clyburn after receiving assurances from
leadership that the gay community's interests will be
represented, according to a House Democratic aide.
Cicilline easily won re-election to the House on Nov. 8 and will
continue representing his Rhode Island constituents for another
two-year term.
Clyburn, 82, currently serves as party "whip," the No. 2 House
Democratic leadership position. He is retiring from that role to
give way to a younger slate of top leaders. Representative
Katherine Clark, 59, was elected to the No. 2 spot on Wednesday.
As assistant Democratic leader, Clyburn, who represents a South
Carolina district, will lend a southerner's voice to his party's
newly constituted House leadership.
"It is important that the South, rural communities, and those
left out of economic progress of previous generations have a
seat at the leadership table next Congress," Clyburn said in a
statement.
Clark is from Massachusetts. Hakeem Jeffries, the incoming
Democratic leader, hails from New York and Pete Aguilar, the
newly elected Democratic Caucus chairman, represents a district
in California.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Mark Porter)
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