Congressional Black Caucus Elects California's Barbara Lee As Chair

November 20, 2008 11:14 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) will succeed Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI) as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus when the 111th Congress begins in January.

Lee was unanimously voted to be the 21st chair of the powerful 43-member voting bloc after an election by members on Wednesday. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) was elected first vice chair. Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI), a non-voting delegate representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, will succeed Cleaver as second vice chair.

Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) will take over as secretary from Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), who last week launched his bid to be appointed to President-elect Barack Obama former Senate seat. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) will replace Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) as caucus whip.

In a statement, Kilpatrick called her successor "a stalwart for human rights, global peace, and social justice." She added, "As First Vice-Chair of the CBC, she was one of the architects of the outreach strategy and led the charge to pass legislation removing Nelson Mandela from the U.S. terrorist list."

Lee said in a statement Kilpatrick had "has done a phenomenal job" leading the caucus and that the new leadership will face challenges but "historic opportunities" as well.