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Kweisi Mfume

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Kweisi Mfume
Official photo of Kweisi Mfume in 2020
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 5, 2020
Preceded byElijah Cummings
In office
January 3, 1987 – February 15, 1996
Preceded byParren Mitchell
Succeeded byElijah Cummings
President and CEO of the NAACP
In office
February 20, 1996 – November 30, 2004
Preceded byRupert Richardson (President)
Earl Shinhoster (Executive Director)
Succeeded byDennis Courtland Hayes (acting)
Member of the Baltimore City Council
from the 4th district
In office
1978–1986
Preceded byMulti-member district
Succeeded byMulti-member district
Personal details
Born
Frizzell Gerard Tate

(1948-10-24) October 24, 1948 (age 76)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Linda Shields
​
​
(m. 1972; div. 1975)​

Tiffany McMillan
​
(m. 2012)​
Children6
EducationMorgan State University (BS)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Kweisi Mfume's voice
Mfume's first speech in the House chamber after his return to Congress
Recorded May 5, 2020

Kweisi Mfume (/kwaɪˈiːsi ʊmˈfuːmeɪ/ kwy-EE-see uum-FOO-may; born Frizzell Gerard Tate;[1] October 24, 1948) is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for Maryland's 7th congressional district, first serving from 1987 to 1996 and again since 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, Mfume first left his seat to become the president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a position he held from 1996 to 2004. In 2006, he ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes, losing the Democratic primary to the eventual winner, Ben Cardin. Mfume returned to his former House seat in 2020 after it was left vacant by the death of Elijah Cummings.[2]

Early life and education

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Mfume was born as Frizzell Gerard Tate[1] in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 24, 1948, the eldest of four. As a child, his name was changed to Gray after his stepfather, a truck driver who abandoned his family in Gray's youth. Upon the death of his mother, Gray dropped out of high school at 16 to begin working as many as three jobs at a time to support his three sisters. He also began hanging around on street corners, which included being in the company of gang members.

He changed his name to Kweisi Mfume in the early 1970s.[3]

In his 1996 autobiography, No Free Ride, Mfume wrote that he "was locked up a couple of times on suspicion of theft because [he] happened to be black and happened to be young." Speculation as to the degree of his entanglement with the law has varied, especially as he later came into prominence. He fathered five children with several different women during his teenage years. He has since adopted another child.[4][5]

Mfume received a B.S. degree from Morgan State University in 1976 and an M.A. degree from the Johns Hopkins University in 1984.[6]

Career

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Mfume with President Ronald Reagan in 1987

In 1978, Mfume was elected to the Baltimore City Council,[7] where he opposed mayor William Donald Schaefer, whom he accused of ignoring the city's poor neighborhoods. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986.

U.S. House of Representatives (1987–1996)

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Mfume with Nelson Mandela in 1994

In November 1986, Mfume was elected to represent Maryland's 7th congressional district, succeeding fellow Democrat Parren Mitchell. He won reelection four times.

Mfume made himself known as a Democrat with an apparent balance between progressive ideologies and a capacity for practical compromise, representing a district that included both West Baltimore and suburban and rural communities, though his primary goal was an increase in federal aid to American inner cities. From 1993 to 1995, Mfume served as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.[8]

NAACP

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Mfume and Dayton, Ohio NAACP President Derrick L. Foward meet for the first time at the NAACP National Convention, 2017

In February 1996, Mfume left the House to accept the presidency of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), saying that he could do more to improve American civil rights there than in Congress.[9] He reformed the NAACP's finances to pay off its considerable debt while pursuing the cause of civil rights advancement for African Americans. Though many in Baltimore wanted Mfume to run for mayor in the 1999 election, he stayed with the NAACP.[10]

Mfume stepped down from the NAACP in 2004 after an internal investigation of allegations that he had sexually harassed female subordinates.[11] He acknowledged dating an NAACP employee,[12] and in May 2005 apologized for having had the affair while leading the organization.[13]

The NAACP reportedly paid out $100,000 to settle Mfume's alleged improprieties.[14]

2006 U.S. Senate campaign

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Main article: 2006 United States Senate election in Maryland

On March 14, 2005, Mfume announced that he would seek the U.S. Senate seat of incumbent Paul Sarbanes, following Sarbanes's announcement that he would not seek reelection in 2006.[15] Mfume lost the Democratic primary for this seat on September 12, 2006, to U.S. Representative Ben Cardin.[16]

In the wake of his primary defeat, Mfume was believed to be considering running for mayor of Baltimore in 2007, though he had not publicly expressed interest in it.[17][18] On November 13, 2006, Mfume told a Baltimore-area radio station, "I don't have any plans to run for mayor. She [incoming mayor Sheila Dixon]'s worked for and deserves an opportunity to lead. ... I want her to succeed. I want the city to be united. I think at this point we owe her at least the opportunity to try to lead it."

2007–2020

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Mfume with wife Tiffany McMillan at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

In March 2010, Mfume was named chief executive officer of the National Medical Association (NMA).[19] In late 2010, he was again rumored to be considering a run in the 2011 Baltimore mayoral election.[20] He left the NMA in June 2011.[21]

In May 2013, Mfume was named chair of the board of regents of his alma mater, Morgan State University. He assumed the position on July 1, 2013, succeeding the interim chair Martin Resnick.[22]

From 2013 to 2018, Mfume was the principal investigator for the Health Policy Research Consortium.[23]

Back in the U.S. House of Representatives (2020–present)

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Elections

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2020 special

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Main article: 2020 Maryland's 7th congressional district special election
Mfume during the 116th Congress

On November 4, 2019, Mfume announced his candidacy for the special election for his old congressional seat to fill the vacancy created by the October death of his predecessor, Elijah Cummings.[24] On February 4, 2020, Mfume won the Democratic nomination, defeating Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Elijah Cummings's widow. As the 7th is a heavily Democratic district, this all but assured Mfume's return to Congress after a 24-year absence. He defeated Republican nominee Kimberly Klacik in the general election on April 28, 2020[25][2] and was sworn in on May 5.[26]

2020

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See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland § District 7

Mfume ran for a full term in the November 2020 race and won, defeating Klacik in a rematch.[24]

2022

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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland § District 7

Committee assignments

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In the 117th Congress Mfume serves on the following committees:[27]

Caucus memberships

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Source:[28]

Political positions

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Mfume voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[31]

Personal life

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Mfume is a member of the Prince Hall Freemasons[32] and Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

His first marriage to Linda Shields was from 1972 to 1975; it ended in divorce.[1] In 2012, he married Tiffany McMillan, the granddaughter of Enolia McMillan, the first female president of the NAACP.[33] He has six children, including Michael Mfume, who wrote, produced, directed and starred in the 1992 slasher film Ax 'Em.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Bock, James (August 9, 1996). "From street hustler to president of NAACP: Autobiography traces Mfume's journey to success". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Witte, Brian; Cortez, Julio (April 29, 2020). "Ex-NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume wins Maryland seat in Congress". Associated Press. Baltimore, MD. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Kweisi Mfume (Frizzel Gray) (1948- )". March 27, 2008.
  4. ^ Hall, Wiley (December 1, 2004). "NAACP president Mfume resigns". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "CNN.com - NAACP chief Mfume resigns - Nov 30, 2004". CNN. November 30, 2004. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Mfume, Kweisi". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Kweisi Mfume". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Congressional Black Caucus". Congressional Black Caucus. May 5, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "U.S. News Briefs". CNN. February 20, 1996. Archived from the original on February 6, 2003. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Janofsky, Michael (May 25, 1999). "N.A.A.C.P. Chief Rules Out Running for Mayor of Baltimore". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  11. ^ Brewington, Kelly (May 8, 2005). "Pattern of abuse claims at NAACP kept quiet". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  12. ^ Matthew Mosk; Cheryl W. Thompson (April 28, 2005). "Mfume Accused of Favoritism At NAACP". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020. Mfume acknowledged yesterday that he dated one of the women in that altercation, a female NAACP employee
  13. ^ Nitkin, David (May 17, 2005). "Affair with staffer a mistake, Mfume says". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020. has acknowledged having an affair with one of the women, D'Andrea Lancelin
  14. ^ Brewington, Kelly (May 23, 2005). "Scandal at top of NAACP felt little by local organizations". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 1, 2020. Though the allegations against Mfume prompted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to reportedly pay a settlement of about $100,000 to a former female employee, many local leaders in the nation's oldest civil rights organization say they are relieved that the public relations damage isn't worse.
  15. ^ "Civil Rights Leader Announces Bid For U.S. Senate". WBAL-TV. March 14, 2005. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  16. ^ "Cardin beats Mfume in Maryland Senate race". NBC News. September 13, 2006. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  17. ^ Donovan, Doug; Fritze, John (January 6, 2007). "Keiffer Mitchell to run for mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019. Many believed that the Bolton Hill resident was going to wait until former U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume decided whether to seek the office.
  18. ^ Brown, Geoff; Iglehart, Ken; Rath, Molly; Weiss, Max (March 1, 2007). "Power 50". Baltimore. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019. Baltimore's former congressman dominated the 2007 mayoral election into February—without so much as suggesting he wanted to run.
  19. ^ Ginyard, Tiffany (March 25, 2010). "Kweisi Mfume to Head National Medical Association". Afro.com. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  20. ^ Scharper, Julie (November 14, 2010). "Challengers emerge to Rawlings-Blake in 2011 mayor's race". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  21. ^ Dale, Gregory (March 20, 2011). "Kweisi Mfume stepping down as CEO of National Medical Association". The Philadelphia Sun. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  22. ^ Rector, Kevin (May 9, 2013). "Mfume named chair of Morgan State board, signals Wilson will stay". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  23. ^ Bowman, Bridget (April 29, 2014). "Mfume Brings Dose of Activism to Health Policy". Roll Call. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Young, Blair (November 4, 2019). "Kweisi Mfume announces candidacy for District 7 seat". WBAL-TV. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  25. ^ Barker, Jeff (February 4, 2020). "Kweisi Mfume wins Democratic nomination for Maryland's 7th District". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  26. ^ Barker, Jeff; Opilo, Emily (May 5, 2020). "Just sworn in, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume says he'll 'have a conversation' with late friend Elijah Cummings". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  27. ^ "Official alphabetical List of the House of Representatives of the United States - One Hundred Seventeenth Congress" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  28. ^ "Committees and Caucuses". Representative Kweisi Mfume. January 3, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  29. ^ "Membership". cbc.house.gov. Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  30. ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  31. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  32. ^ "Famous Prince Hall Freemasons". freemasonry.bcy.ca. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  33. ^ Portnoy, Jenna (January 17, 2020). "Mfume says he still has what it takes to continue Elijah Cummings's legacy". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kweisi Mfume.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 7th congressional district
1987–1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
1993–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Joint Economic Committee
1994–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Elijah Cummings
 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 7th congressional district
2020–present 		Incumbent
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded byas President of the NAACP President and CEO of the NAACP
1996–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Executive Director of the NAACP
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
94th 		Succeeded by
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