Cedric Richmond eyed for role on Biden campaign

Rep. Cedric Richmond is looking to play a formal role in Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, possibly even as a campaign co-chair, according to Democratic sources.

The 45-year-old Louisiana Democrat is already acting as an unofficial liaison to the Biden campaign for lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He urged Biden to run as far back as 2016, and he quickly endorsed the former vice president’s campaign for the White House once Biden made it official in late April.

Having Richmond — a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus — as a go-between with House Democrats gives Biden a clear advantage in courting African American lawmakers on the Hill, as well as more junior members of the caucus who don’t have a personal relationship with the longtime former senator from Delaware.

“I have not been offered that yet,” Richmond said of the campaign co-chair position in an interview. “But the shorter answer is that there’s probably not a lot I would say ‘no’ to in terms of making sure we beat Donald Trump and helping [Biden]. I really believe in his campaign and his body of work, as well as his ability to beat Trump.”

Richmond said he talked to the Biden campaign in recent weeks “about several roles," and planned to have more discussions with campaign officials this weekend.

“I told them I would do whatever they wanted to do,” Richmond added.

Richmond remains close to Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, two African American senators seeking the Democratic presidential nod. He gave maximum contributions to both senators’ campaigns, yet was one of the first lawmakers to endorse Biden.

"They’re both dear friends of mine, I respect them immensely," Richmond said. "They know I’m not going to be with them. I told them both who I was endorsing when I was doing it."

Taking a post with Biden’s campaign would return Richmond to a much more public perch, something other Democrats say they think he’s missed after being term-limited out of the CBC chairmanship last year. Richmond is now chairman of the CBC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the caucus.

Richmond, however, said his interest in a role on the Biden campaign is as much about taking on Trump as it is about his support for the former vice president.

"I’m at the point where I really believe that we’re fighting for the future of this country," Richmond said. "And then I think about the damage Trump could do with another four years, appointing more justices to the Supreme Court. So it creates a sense of seriousness where it’s not about me at all, it’s not about positions or attention or anything else, which is why I didn’t run for any House leadership positions. It’s why I didn’t do any of that because I want to be as helpful as I can in making sure that we don’t have Donald Trump for a second term."

Biden’s campaign offered praise for Richmond but made no announcement of an official role for him.

“Vice President Biden and the entire campaign benefit from Rep. Richmond’s support and counsel," said T.J. Ducklo, national press secretary for the Biden campaign. "His leadership and strong relationships throughout the country and the Democratic Party make him an asset to any campaign, and we’re grateful for his valuable contributions to Team Joe."

Lawmakers have been watching to see what Richmond would do next. A rising star in the Democratic Caucus and protégé of House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), he found himself with limited options after leading the CBC.

"Cedric is probably one of the best political minds that I have ever encountered," said Clyburn, who has known Richmond since his first campaign for Congress. "I think the Biden campaign would do well to have an African American who is articulate, bright and good looking."

With Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Clyburn all dug in for at least two more years and another prominent younger CBC member, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, moving up the leadership ranks and positioning himself to possibly be speaker some day, there was little room for Richmond to maneuver internally.

That doesn’t mean Richmond has been relegated to the sidelines completely. Clyburn made Richmond the top lawmaker on his whip team, elevating him above other Democrats also tasked with counting votes. And the Louisiana Democrat sometimes runs the weekly closed-door whip meetings, giving him a prominent — albeit entirely internal — platform.

But attaching himself formally with the Biden campaign would not only put Richmond back in the spotlight, it could also position him well for a high-ranking job within the administration if Biden were to win.

Richmond’s CBC colleagues believe the Biden campaign would do well to tap him for some advisory position.

“He’s a bright, intelligent individual who understands politics, who knows how to get around,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), a senior member of the CBC. “So I would think that all of the candidates, any candidate, would love to have Cedric on their team.”

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“He is a good strategist, he is a good spokesman, he is a very good politician and he wants to be with a winner. And he thinks he has one," added Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), a close Richmond friend and political ally. "And I hope he has a high-profile role. I would like to see him be the co-chairman of the campaign. I think that he deserves that kind of recognition and I think that he can bring an awful lot to the table."

Nolan McCaskill contributed to this report.