View source for Elijah Cummings

{{Short description|American politician (1951–2019)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name            = Elijah Cummings
| image           = Elijah Cummings Portrait (3x4 cropped).jpg
| caption         = Official portrait, 2008
| office          = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform|House Oversight Committee]]
| term_start      = January 3, 2019
| term_end        = October 17, 2019
| predecessor     = [[Trey Gowdy]]
| successor       = [[Carolyn Maloney]]
| state1          = [[Maryland]]
| district1       = {{ushr|MD|7|7th}}
| term_start1     = April 16, 1996
| term_end1       = October 17, 2019
| predecessor1    = [[Kweisi Mfume]]
| successor1      = Kweisi Mfume
| state_delegate2 = Maryland
| district2       = [[Maryland Legislative District 39|39th]]
| term_start2     = January 12, 1983
| term_end2       = January 10, 1996
| predecessor2    = [[Lena King Lee]]
| successor2      = Sterling Page
| birth_name      = Elijah Eugene Cummings
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1951|1|18}}
| birth_place     = [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], U.S.
| death_date      = {{death date and age|2019|10|17|1951|1|18}}
| death_place     = [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], U.S.
| party           = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse          = {{ubl |{{marriage|Joyce Matthews||1982|end=div}} |{{marriage|[[Maya Rockeymoore Cummings|Maya Rockeymoore]]|2008}}}}
| children        = 3
| education       = [[Howard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Maryland, Baltimore]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature       = Elijah Eugene Cummings signature.svg
| module          = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Elijah Cummings Speaks in Support of the For the People Act of 2019.ogg |title=Cummings's voice |type=speech |description=Cummings supporting the [[For the People Act|For the People Act of 2019]].<br>Recorded March 6, 2019}}
}}
'''Elijah Eugene Cummings''' (January 18, 1951{{spnd}}October 17, 2019) was an American politician and lawyer who served in the [[United States House of Representatives]] for {{Ushr|MD|7|}} from 1996 until his death in 2019, when he was succeeded by his predecessor [[Kweisi Mfume]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Maryland Government|author=Gibbs Smith|publisher=Suzanne Chapelle|page=65}}</ref> The district he represented included over half of the [[Baltimore|city of Baltimore]], including most of the majority-black precincts of [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County]], and most of [[Howard County, Maryland|Howard County]], Maryland.  A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Cummings previously served in the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] from 1983 to 1996.

Cummings served as the chair of the [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform|Committee on Oversight and Reform]] from January 2019 until his death in October of the same year.

== Early life, education, and career ==
Cummings was born on January 18, 1951, in Baltimore, son of Ruth Elma ({{Nee|Cochran}}) and Robert Cummings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-20180207-story.html|title=Ruth Cummings, mother of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and founder of Victory Prayer Chapel, dies|last=Rasmussen|first=Frederick N.|date=February 7, 2018|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=November 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108065620/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-20180207-story.html|archive-date=November 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> His parents were [[Sharecropping#United States|sharecroppers]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/us/politics/elijah-cummings-dead.html|title=Elijah E. Cummings, Powerful Democrat Who Investigated Trump, Dies at 68|last1=Stout|first1=David|date=October 17, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 17, 2019|last2=Stolberg|first2=Sheryl Gay|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017111306/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/us/politics/elijah-cummings-dead.html|archive-date=October 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He was the third child of seven. When he was 11 years old, Cummings and some friends worked to integrate a segregated swimming pool in South Baltimore.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/10/17/white-mob-attacked-elijah-cummings-integrating-swimming-pool-he-was/ |title = A white mob attacked Elijah Cummings for integrating a swimming pool. He was 11|newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

Cummings graduated with honors from [[Baltimore City College]] high school in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-yearbook-pictures-of-notable-baltimore-fig-011-photo.html|title=Baltimore City College alum: Elijah Cummings|website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|access-date=July 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910234110/http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-yearbook-pictures-of-notable-baltimore-fig-011-photo.html|archive-date=September 10, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gpo">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9MBIctdjjkC&pg=PA904|title=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005|date=2005|publisher=Government Printing Office|others=United States Congress|isbn=9780160731761|editor-last=Dodge|editor-first=Andrew R.|pages=904|editor-last2=Koed|editor-first2=Betty K.}}</ref> He then attended [[Howard University]] in [[Washington, D.C.]],<ref name="gpo" /> where he served in the [[Students' union|student government]] as sophomore class president, student government treasurer, and later student government president. He became a member of the [[Phi Beta Kappa]] society<ref>{{Cite news |title=Congressman Elijah Cummings: We need to see each other to move forward |url=https://watson.brown.edu/public-policy/news/2016/congressman-elijah-cummings-krieger-lecture-2016 |access-date=February 27, 2019 |work=Watson Institute |publisher=Brown University |date=March 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065922/https://watson.brown.edu/public-policy/news/2016/congressman-elijah-cummings-krieger-lecture-2016 |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and graduated in 1973 with a [[Bachelor of Science|bachelor]]'s degree in [[political science|political science]].<ref name="gpo" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/02/26/elijah-e-cummings-age-53/b829afbd-8338-4dc8-890f-3c52afa3170e/|title=Elijah E. Cummings|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224037/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/02/26/elijah-e-cummings-age-53/b829afbd-8338-4dc8-890f-3c52afa3170e/|archive-date=November 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cummings graduated from [[law school]] at the [[University of Maryland School of Law]], receiving his [[Juris Doctor]] in 1976, and was admitted to the bar in Maryland later that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000984|title=Cummings, Elijah Eugene, (1951-)|website=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]|access-date=November 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718062721/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000984|archive-date=July 18, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> He practiced law for 19 years before first being elected to the United States House of Representatives in the [[U.S. House election, 1996|1996 election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Folkenflik |first1=David |title=As Cummings rose, financial problems grew; Politician struggled with child support, taxes, mortgage |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-10-17-9910170087-story.html |access-date=February 27, 2019 |date=October 17, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228070035/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-10-17-9910170087-story.html |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

For 14 years, Cummings served in the [[Maryland House of Delegates]]. His predecessor, [[Lena King Lee]], raised funds and campaigned for him; years later, Cummings credited her with launching his political career.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Pioneering Md. Delegate, Educator Lena Lee, 100 |date=August 28, 2006 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082700916.html |access-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211225532/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082700916.html |archive-date=December 11, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The Washington Examiner |title=Post office branch renamed in tribute to pioneering delegate |date=June 3, 2006 |access-date=December 12, 2017 |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/post-office-branch-renamed-in-tribute-to-pioneering-delegate/article/56447 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212055208/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/post-office-branch-renamed-in-tribute-to-pioneering-delegate/article/56447 |archive-date=December 12, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Maryland General Assembly]], he served as Chairman of the [[Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland]] and was the first African American in Maryland history to be named [[Speaker Pro Tempore]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rep. Cummings to speak at Hood College |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/rep-cummings-to-speak-at-hood-college/article_ef189e44-1313-57b8-acb4-4de26b0ba08e.html |access-date=February 27, 2019 |date=January 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728222036/https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/rep-cummings-to-speak-at-hood-college/article_ef189e44-1313-57b8-acb4-4de26b0ba08e.html |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Cummings also served on several boards and commissions, both in and out of Baltimore. Those include SEED Schools of Maryland Board of Directors and the University of Maryland Law School Board of Advisors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/29/politics/who-is-elijah-cummings/index.html|title=Elijah Cummings has served for decades the city Trump attacked|last=Killough|first=Ashley|date=July 29, 2019|website=CNN|url-status=live|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804054134/https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/29/politics/who-is-elijah-cummings/index.html|archive-date=August 4, 2019}}</ref> He served on numerous Maryland boards and commissions including the Board of Visitors to the [[United States Naval Academy]] and the Elijah Cummings Youth Program in [[Israel]]. He was an honorary member of the [[The Maryland Zoo|Baltimore Zoo]] Board of Trustees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marylandzoo.org/board-of-trustees/|title=Board of Trustees - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore|website=marylandzoo.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325143904/http://www.marylandzoo.org/board-of-trustees/|archive-date=March 25, 2016|access-date=July 11, 2016}}</ref>

In addition to his speaking engagements, he wrote a biweekly column for the ''[[Baltimore Afro-American]]'' newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afro.com/the-thing-i-love-about-baltimore-5/|title=The Thing I Love About Baltimore &#124; Afro|last=Cummings|first=Congressman Elijah|date=August 2019 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801131434/https://www.afro.com/the-thing-i-love-about-baltimore-5/|archive-date=August 1, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref>

Elijah Cummings was a member of [[Phi Beta Sigma]] and a [[Prince Hall Freemasonry|Prince Hall Mason]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duster |first1=Chandelis |title=Obama says 'Cummings stood tallest and most resolute when our country needed him the most' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/17/politics/barack-obama-remembers-elijah-cummings/index.html |access-date=August 10, 2024 |work=CNN |date=October 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://phaohio.org/famous-prince-hall-masons |title=Famous Prince Hall Masons |website=Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602030709/https://phaohio.org/famous-prince-hall-masons |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |access-date=August 10, 2024}}</ref>

== U.S. House of Representatives ==
[[File:Elijah Cummings portrait.jpg|thumb|right|Earlier photo of Cummings]]
[[File:Xavier Becerra, Robert Matsui, and Elijah Cummings at a press conference on civil rights.jpg|thumb|right|Elijah Cummings, [[Xavier Becerra]], and [[Robert Matsui]] at a press conference on civil rights in 1997]]
[[File:Elijah Cummings and Bill Clinton.jpg|thumb|right|Cummings with [[Bill Clinton]] in 2000]]
[[File:Barack Obama and Elijah Cummings.jpg|thumb|right|Cummings with [[Barack Obama]] in 2004]]

=== Committee assignments ===
* '''[[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]'''
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation|Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation]]
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials|Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials]]
* '''[[United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|Committee on Oversight and Government Reform]]''' (Chair)
** [[United States House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy|Subcommittee on Domestic Policy]].
** [[United States House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia|Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and District of Columbia]].
* '''[[United States House Select Committee on Benghazi|Select Committee on Benghazi]]''' (Ranking Minority Member 114th Congress)

In December 2010, [[Edolphus Towns]] announced that he would not seek the position of [[Ranking Minority Member|ranking minority member]] of the Oversight Committee in the next Congress, even though his [[Seniority in the United States House of Representatives|seniority]] and service as chair would typically result in his filling this post. Reportedly, Towns withdrew because of a lack of support from [[Nancy Pelosi]] who feared that he would not be a sufficiently aggressive leader of Democrats in an anticipated struggle with incoming committee chair Republican [[Darrell Issa]].<ref name="tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com">{{Cite news |first=Brian |last=Beutler |url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/pelosi-power-play-doomed-towns-on-oversight-committee.php |title=Pelosi Power Play Doomed Towns On Oversight Committee |work=[[Talking Points Memo]] |date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=July 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319175253/http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/pelosi-power-play-doomed-towns-on-oversight-committee.php |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Reportedly, the White House also wanted Towns to be replaced.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/12/ed-towns-steps-down-sources-bl.html |work=Daily News |title=Ed Towns Steps Down; Sources Blame White House |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216103943/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/12/ed-towns-steps-down-sources-bl.html |archive-date=December 16, 2010}}</ref> Cummings defeated [[Carolyn Maloney]] in a vote of the House Democratic Caucus.<ref name="tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com" />

In his role as chair of the Oversight Committee, Cummings presided over the first public testimony by President Trump's former lawyer, [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]],<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pierce |first1=Charles P. |title=The Cohen Hearing Was the Start of a Reconstruction of the American Republic |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a26561211/elijah-cummings-michael-cohen-hearing/ |access-date=February 28, 2019 |work=Esquire |date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228024732/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a26561211/elijah-cummings-michael-cohen-hearing/ |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Zurawik |first1=David |title=Maryland Congressman Cummings redeems Cohen hearing with passionate, poetic closing remarks |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/bs-fe-zontv-cummings-cohen-closing-20190227-story.html |access-date=February 28, 2019 |work=Capital Gazette |date=February 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228070006/https://www.capitalgazette.com/bs-fe-zontv-cummings-cohen-closing-20190227-story.html |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Stableford |first1=Dylan |title=Cohen brought to tears by Rep. Cummings at end of House hearing |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-cohen-brought-to-tears-by-cummings-at-end-of-house-hearing-231714126.html |access-date=February 28, 2019 |work=Yahoo Finance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228191856/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-cohen-brought-to-tears-by-cummings-at-end-of-house-hearing-231714126.html |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and was a leading figure in the [[impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elijah-cummings-death-cause-age-trump-democrat-impeachment-health-illness-update-a9159541.html|title=Elijah Cummings death: Senior Democrat at centre of Trump impeachment probe dies, aged 68|work=The Independent|date=October 17, 2019|first=Chris|last=Baynes}}</ref> [[Carolyn Maloney]] was named acting chair by [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]] [[Nancy Pelosi]], and won the subsequent election in the [[House Democratic Caucus|Democratic caucus]] to serve as permanent chair.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-whistleblower-cummings-repl/maloney-to-be-acting-house-oversight-chair-after-cummings-death-aide-idUSKBN1WW1YG |title=Maloney to be acting House oversight chair after Cummings death |work=[[Reuters]] |date=October 17, 2019 |access-date=October 17, 2019 |last1=Chiacu |first1=Doina |last2=Heavey |first2=Susan |editor-last=Lambert |editor-first=Lisa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/20/rep-carolyn-maloney-to-lead-house-oversight-committee-072214|title=Rep. Carolyn Maloney wins election to chair House Oversight Committee|last=Ferris|first=Sarah|website=POLITICO|date=November 20, 2019 |access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>

=== Caucus memberships ===
* Task Force on Health Care Reform
* Co-founder and Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Drug Policy
* [[Congressional Arts Caucus]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm|publisher=Afterschool Alliance|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418031804/http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm|archive-date=April 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cummings was a member of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caucus Members |url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71 |publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130405/https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71 |archive-date=December 26, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> He served as chairman of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Membership |url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/ |publisher=Congressional Black Caucus |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141129/https://cbc.house.gov/membership/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> during the [[108th United States Congress]].

Cummings received praise following the congressional panel hearings on [[Anabolic steroid|steroids]] in 2008. While investigating the use of [[Doping in sport|steroids in sports]], the panel called numerous [[Doping in baseball|baseball]] players to testify, including former single season home run record holder [[Mark McGwire]]. After McGwire answered many questions in a vague fashion, Cummings demanded to know if he was "taking the Fifth", referring to the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]]. McGwire responded by saying, "I am here to talk about the future, not about the past." The exchange came to epitomize the entire inquiry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clemens pressed by Congress, denies accusations by Pettitte, McNamee |url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20080213/News/605128348/WM/ |website=Star News Online |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729143049/https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20080213/News/605128348/WM/ |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Legislation ===
Cummings introduced the [[Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014]], a bipartisan bill signed into law by then-President [[Barack Obama]] in December 2014. The bill, which Cummings co-sponsored with Representative [[Darrell Issa]], (R-California), is a set of amendments to the [[Federal Records Act]] and [[Presidential Records Act]]. Among other provisions, the bill modernizes the definition of a federal record to expressly include electronic documents.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2015/nr15-23.html |title=National Archives Welcomes Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007151042/http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2015/nr15-23.html |archive-date=October 7, 2015 |website=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |date=December 1, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Charles S. |last=Clark |url=http://www.govexec.com/technology/2014/12/obama-signs-modernized-federal-records-act/100112/ |title=Obama Signs Modernized Federal Records Act |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023234706/http://www.govexec.com/technology/2014/12/obama-signs-modernized-federal-records-act/100112/ |archive-date=October 23, 2015 |work=[[Government Executive]] |date=December 1, 2014}}</ref>

He supported the [[Smart Savings Act]], a bill that would make the default investment in the [[Thrift Savings Plan]] (TSP) an age-appropriate [[Target date fund|target date asset allocation investment fund]] (L Fund) instead of the Government Securities Investment Fund (G Fund).<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R. 4193 - Summary |url=https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4193 |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715025727/https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4193 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Cummings called the bill a "commonsense change" and argued that the bill "will enable workers to take full advantage of a [[Diversification (finance)|diversified]] fund designed to yield higher returns".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oversight Committee Passes Bipartisan Bills to Improve Federal Worker Savings, Whistleblower Protections|url=http://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-passes-bipartisan-bills-improve-federal-worker-savings-whistleblower-protections/|publisher=House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform|access-date=July 14, 2014|date=March 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715012022/http://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-passes-bipartisan-bills-improve-federal-worker-savings-whistleblower-protections/|archive-date=July 15, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He introduced the [[All Circuit Review Extension Act]], a bill that would extend for three years the authority for federal employees who appeal a judgment of the [[Merit Systems Protection Board]] (MSPB) to file their appeal at any U.S. circuit court of appeals, instead of only the [[United States courts of appeals|U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CBO - H.R. 4197 |date=April 2014 |url=http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45233 |publisher=Congressional Budget Office |access-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230234/https://www.cbo.gov/publication/45233 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Cummings said that this program is important to extend because it "allows [[whistleblowers]] to file appeals where they live rather than being limited to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals".<ref name="CommitPR1">{{Cite web|title=Oversight Committee Passes Bipartisan Bills to Improve Federal Worker Savings, Whistleblower Protections|url=http://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-passes-bipartisan-bills-improve-federal-worker-savings-whistleblower-protections/|publisher=House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform|access-date=July 15, 2014|date=March 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715012022/http://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-passes-bipartisan-bills-improve-federal-worker-savings-whistleblower-protections/|archive-date=July 15, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also said that the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has "an abysmal track record in whistleblower cases".<ref name="CommitPR1" />

In remarks at the [[2016 Democratic National Convention]], Cummings declared: "Our party does not just believe, but understands, that [[Black Lives Matter]]. But we also recognize that our community and our law enforcement work best when they work together."<ref>Dan Spinelli, [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/elijah-cummings-black-lives-matter-226157 Cummings declares 'Black Lives Matter' in convention speech] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803074215/https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/elijah-cummings-black-lives-matter-226157 |date=August 3, 2018}}, ''Politico'' (July 25, 2016).</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4613322/representative-elijah-cummings-delivers-remarks-democratic-national-convention|title=Representative Elijah Cummings Delivers Remarks at the Democratic National Convention|website=C-SPAN.org|access-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105220708/https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4613322%2Frepresentative-elijah-cummings-delivers-remarks-democratic-national-convention|archive-date=November 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Tenure===

Rep. Cummings was shown to be very passionate and dedicated in his beliefs, and could often be seen becoming emotional in public as a result.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xVRXWpweBY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9xVRXWpweBY| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title='We can do better': Elijah Cummings' most memorable speeches|website=[[YouTube]] |date=October 17, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Cummings was seemingly very agreeable as well. According to many, Cummings would often befriend members of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], and was highly respected by both sides of the aisle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayDE5rDtcvs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ayDE5rDtcvs| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Rep. Elijah Cummings passes away at age 68|website=[[YouTube]] |date=October 17, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Political campaigns ==
[[File:Elijah Cummings (3080908579) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Cummings speaking at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]]]]
The five-term Congressman for Maryland's 7th congressional district, [[Kweisi Mfume]], resigned in February 1996 to take the presidency of the [[NAACP]]. Cummings won a crowded twenty-seven-way Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district—with 37.5% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Matthews |first1=Robert Guy |title=7th Congressional District candidates |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-01-06-1996006041-story.html |access-date=February 27, 2019 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 6, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065815/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-01-06-1996006041-story.html |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the special election, he defeated [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Kenneth Kondner with over 80 percent of the vote. He defeated Kondner again in November by a similar margin to win the seat in his own right.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribpub.com/gdpr/baltimoresun.com |title=Elijah Cummings elections |website=tribpub.com |access-date=October 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007095638/https://www.tribpub.com/gdpr/baltimoresun.com |archive-date=October 7, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Failed verification|reason=Yeilds "Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country."|date=May 2023}}

He was reelected 11 more times in the contests which followed, never dropping below 69 percent of the vote. He ran unopposed in 2006.<ref name="auto" />{{Failed verification|reason=Yeilds "Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country."|date=May 2023}}
[[File:Cummings anderson omalley.jpg|thumb|Congressman Elijah Cummings (l-r) along with Maryland Delegate [[Curt Anderson]] and Maryland Governor [[Martin O'Malley]] at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]].]]

===Obama campaign===
Early in 2007, Cummings began campaigning for [[Barack Obama]]'s presidential bid, attempting to solidify Obama's support in the African American community.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Early in 2008, Obama remained relatively unknown and Congressional Black Caucus support was split with [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Michelle |title=Black Congressional Leaders Split on Clinton, Obama |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87761904 |work=[[NPR]] |access-date=July 18, 2023 |date=February 28, 2008}}</ref> Cummings traveled extensively to campaign for Obama.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

== Electoral history ==
{{Ushr|Maryland|7}}: Results 1996–2018<ref>{{Cite web|title=Candidate Details|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=1204|access-date=December 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105022252/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=1204|archive-date=November 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Elections By Year|url=http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/|website=Maryland State Board of Elections|access-date=November 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027005152/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/|archive-date=October 27, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Type
! Winner
! Party
! Votes
! %
! Opponent
! Party
! Votes
! %
! Opponent
! Party
! Votes
! %

|-
| data-sort-value="1995" | [[1996 Maryland's 7th congressional district special election|1996]]
| Special
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| rowspan=13 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 18,870
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 80.9%
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Kondner, Kenneth" | Kenneth Kondner
| rowspan=6 {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 4,449
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 19.1%
| colspan=4 |

|-
| [[1996 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|1996]]
| rowspan=12 |General
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 115,764
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 83.5%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 22,929
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 16.5%
| colspan=4 |

|-
| [[1998 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|1998]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 112,699
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 85.7%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 18,742
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 14.3%
| colspan=4 |

|-
| [[2000 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2000]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 134,066
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 87.0%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 19,773
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 12.8%
| colspan=4 |

|-
| [[2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2002]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 137,047
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 73.5%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Ward, Joseph" | Joseph E. Ward
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 49,172
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 26.4%
| colspan=4 |

|-
| [[2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2004]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 179,189
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 73.4%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Salazar, Tony" | Tony Salazar
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 60,102
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 24.6%
| {{Party shading/Green}} data-sort-value="Rodino, Virginia" | Virginia Rodino
| {{Party shading/Green}} | [[Green Party (United States)|Green]]
| {{Party shading/Green}} | 4,727
| {{Party shading/Green}} | 1.9%

|-
| [[2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2006]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 158,830
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 98.1%
| colspan=4 |
| colspan=2 | [[Write-in candidate]]s
| 3,147
| 1.9%

|-
| [[2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2008]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 227,379
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 79.5%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Hargadon, Michael" | Michael Hargadon
| rowspan=6 {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 53,147
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 18.6%
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} data-sort-value="Owens-Bey, Ronald" | Ronald Owens-Bey
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 5,214
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 1.8%

|-
| [[2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2010]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 152,669
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 75.2%
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Mirabile, Frank" | Frank Mirabile
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 46,375
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 22.8%
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} data-sort-value="Spencer, Scott" | Scott Spencer
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 3,814
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 1.9%

|-
| [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2012]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 247,770
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 76.5%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 67,405
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 20.8%
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} data-sort-value="Owens-Bey, Ronald" | Ronald Owens-Bey
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 8,211
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 2.5%

|-
| [[2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland|2014]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 144,639
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 69.9%
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Vaughn, Corrogan" | Corrogan Vaughn
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 55,860
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 27.0%
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} data-sort-value="Soffen, Scott" | Scott Soffen
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 6,103
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 3.0%

|-
| [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections|2016]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 238,838
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 74.9%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 69,556
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 21.8%
| {{Party shading/Green}} data-sort-value="Hoenig, Miles" | Miles B. Hoenig
| {{Party shading/Green}} | [[Green Party (United States)|Green]]
| {{Party shading/Green}} | 9,715
| {{Party shading/Green}} | 3.0%

|-
| [[2018 United States House of Representatives elections|2018]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | '''{{Aye}} Elijah Cummings'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 202,345
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 76.4%
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Davis, Richmond" | Richmond Davis
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 56,266
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | 21.3%
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} data-sort-value="Griggs, David" | David Griggs
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 5,827
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | 2.2%

|}

== Personal life ==
Cummings lived in the [[Madison Park, Baltimore|Madison Park community in Baltimore]] and was an active member of the New Psalmist Baptist Church.<ref name="auto" />{{Failed verification|reason=Yeilds "Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country."|date=May 2023}} He married Joyce Matthews, with whom he had a daughter, Jennifer J. Cummings.<ref name="Carlson2019">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/17/elijah-cummings-obituary |title=Elijah Cummings obituary |first=Michael |last=Carlson |date=October 17, 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="Rivera2019">{{cite news |url=https://www.bet.com/article/hn8znd/the-congressman-s-wife-and-his-children |title=Elijah Cummings' Family: The Congressman's Wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, And His Children |work=BET |first=Zayda |last=Rivera |date=October 17, 2019 |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> He had a son and a daughter, Adia Cummings, from other relationships.<ref name="Carlson2019" /><ref name="Rivera2019" /> He married [[Maya Rockeymoore Cummings]] in 2009, who was elected chairwoman of the [[Maryland Democratic Party]] in December 2018.<ref name="maya-washington-post">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-democrats-elect-maya-rockeymoore-cummings-as-its-new-chairwoman/2018/12/01/c2955e64-f406-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html |title=Maryland Democrats elect Maya Rockeymoore Cummings as state party chair |last=Wiggins |first=Ovetta |date=December 1, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=January 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111054250/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-democrats-elect-maya-rockeymoore-cummings-as-its-new-chairwoman/2018/12/01/c2955e64-f406-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html |archive-date=January 11, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RollCall">{{Cite news |url=http://www.rollcall.com/members/232.html |title=Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) |work=[[Roll Call]] |access-date=July 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823035005/http://www.rollcall.com/members/232.html |archive-date=August 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2011, his nephew Christopher Cummings, son of his brother James, was murdered at his off-campus house near [[Old Dominion University]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]], where he was a student.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-13/justice/virginia.congressman.nephew_1_virginia-shooting-nephew-congressman?_s=PM:CRIME | work=CNN | title=Sailor gunned down on sentry duty, Navy says | date=July 3, 2009 | access-date=June 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331151635/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-13/justice/virginia.congressman.nephew_1_virginia-shooting-nephew-congressman?_s=PM:CRIME | archive-date=March 31, 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref>  On August 12, 2021, Norfolk Police charged four men with the murder.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Nathan |last1=Crawford |first2=Chris |last2=Horne |first3=Michelle |last3=Wolf |url=https://www.wavy.com/news/four-charged-three-arrested-in-connection-to-2011-murder-of-christopher-cummings/ |title=Four charged, three arrested in connection to 2011 murder of Christopher Cummings |work=[[WAVY-TV]] |date=August 12, 2021 |access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref>

Cummings underwent surgery to repair his [[aortic valve]] in May 2017 and was absent from Capitol Hill for two months. In July 2017, he developed a surgery-related infection but returned to work.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bs-md-elijah-cummings-health-20170720-story.html|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|title=Cummings plans to return to work during August recess|date=July 20, 2017|first=John|last=Fritze|access-date=August 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830003339/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bs-md-elijah-cummings-health-20170720-story.html|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Cummings was later hospitalized for a knee infection.<ref name="Barker">{{Cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-cummings-dies-20191017-bbwnrp72nndejatug3v7rj2zga-story.html |title=Rep. Elijah Cummings, Baltimore civil rights advocate and leader in Trump impeachment inquiry, dies |last=Barker |first=Jeff |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref>

Cummings was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called [[thymic carcinoma]] in 1994 while serving as a member of the [[Maryland House of Delegates]]. It was revealed in November 2019 that Cummings had lived with the cancer for 25 years, though it was not stated as the cause of death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-cummings-rare-cancer-20191113-rg2kailg4vd7vbgrxfbcxwzd2u-story.html|title=Rep. Elijah Cummings had a rare cancer. That he survived it for 25 years might be more rare.|first=Meredith|last=Cohn|website=baltimoresun.com|date=November 13, 2019 }}</ref>

=== Death ===
{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?465670-1/representative-elijah-cummings-funeral-baltimore Elijah Cummings funeral service, New Psalmist Baptist Church, Baltimore, October 25, 2019], [[C-SPAN]]}}
[[File:Obama speaking at Cummings funeral - 2019.jpg|thumb|Barack Obama speaking at the funeral of Elijah Cummings.]]
Elijah Cummings died on October 17, 2019, at [[Johns Hopkins Hospital]] at the age of 68 from "complications concerning longstanding health challenges", his spokeswoman stated.<ref name="Barker" /><ref name="funeral">{{cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Jeff |last2=Pitts |first2=Jonathan M. |title=Rep. Elijah Cummings will lie in state in U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 19, 2019 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-cummings-funeral-times-20191018-ggfv4srhf5a7xjvjzmimgeubie-story.html |page=9 |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/us/politics/elijah-cummings-dead.html |title=Elijah E. Cummings, Powerful Democrat Who Investigated Trump, Dies at 68 |last1=Stout |first1=David |date=October 17, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 17, 2019 |last2=Stolberg |first2=Sheryl Gay |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017111306/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/us/politics/elijah-cummings-dead.html |archive-date=October 17, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rep-elijah-cummings-dead_n_5da82baae4b0b5c9be49604f|title=Rep. Elijah Cummings Dies At 68: Reports|work=HuffPost|date=October 17, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> Before his funeral service on October 25 at Baltimore's New Psalmist Baptist Church, where he was a member for 40&nbsp;years, Cummings lay in state at the U.S. Capitol Building's [[Statuary Hall]] on October 24.<ref name="elijahhonor">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/24/cummings-lie-in-state-capitol-056170 |title=Elijah Cummings is first African American lawmaker to lie in state at Capitol |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=October 24, 2019 |access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/24/politics/elijah-cummings-lie-in-state-capitol/index.html|title=Elijah Cummings lies in state at the Capitol|first=Claire|last=Foran|publisher=CNN|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref><ref name="funeral" />

Cummings is the first African American lawmaker to achieve the honor of [[State funerals in the United States|lying in state]] at the nation's Capitol.<ref name="elijahhonor" /> Prior to his death, the most recent people to lie in state were former senator [[John McCain]] and former president [[George H. W. Bush]]. Following a state funeral which was attended by family and members of Congress,<ref name="assostartrib">{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/the-latest-congressional-leaders-pay-tribute-to-cummings/563784902/?refresh=true|title=The Latest: Cummings' casket leaves US Capitol after service|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-date=December 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228155952/https://www.startribune.com/the-latest-congressional-leaders-pay-tribute-to-cummings/563784902?refresh=true|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.axios.com/elijah-cummings-first-black-lawmaker-to-lie-in-state-in-capitol-a9f86f50-2b02-4aff-8fad-a9aa6e4248cd.html|title=In photos: Rep. Elijah Cummings lies in state at U.S. Capitol|publisher=Axios|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> thousands of public mourners were seen entering the U.S. Capitol to see his casket and received greetings from his widow, Maya Rockeymoore-Cummings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://washington.cbslocal.com/video/4196933-thousands-of-mourners-pay-tribute-to-rep-elijah-cummings-at-u-s-capitol/|title=Thousands Of Mourners Pay Tribute To Rep. Elijah Cummings At U.S. Capitol|publisher=CBS Washington|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref><ref name="assostartrib" /> His casket departed from the U.S. Capitol at around 8:35&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="assostartrib" />

On October 25, 2019, the official funeral for Cummings was held at the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore.  Many political figures of the Democratic Party, including former Presidents [[Barack Obama]] and [[Bill Clinton]], former Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]], House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]], [[Joe Biden]], [[John Lewis]], [[Amy Klobuchar]], [[Elizabeth Warren]], [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]], and his predecessor [[Kweisi Mfume]] (who then became his successor) attended the funeral service.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/usa_final-respects-paid-cummings-baltimore-funeral/6178263.html |title=Final Respects Paid to Cummings at Baltimore Funeral |work=[[Voice of America]] |date=October 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-elijah-cummings-funeral-20191025-gebbyol3nza3jc622jkmnbymei-story.html |title=Here's the lineup for U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings' funeral, including Obama, the Clintons and Warren |first=Talia |last=Richman |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> His friend and long time pastor Bishop Walter S. Thomas, Sr. performed the eulogy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brufke |first=Juliegrace |date=October 24, 2019 |title=GOP's Meadows offers tribute to Elijah Cummings |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/467297-gops-meadows-offers-tribute-to-elijah-cummings/ |access-date=May 21, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] }}</ref>

==Political positions==

===Healthcare===
Cummings was in favor of [[single-payer healthcare]]. While he supported the [[Affordable Care Act]], he believed that the legislation should have added a public option.<ref name="votesmart">{{Cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/345/elijah-cummings|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=[[Vote Smart]]}}</ref>

===Marijuana===
Cummings believed that [[marijuana]] should be legalized and taxed at the same rate as [[Alcohol (drug)|alcohol]].<ref name="votesmart" />

==Honors and awards==
Cummings was awarded many honors and awards in recognition of his political career. These include:

===Honorary degrees===
* Cummings received 13 honorary doctoral degrees from universities across the United States, most recently an honorary doctorate of public service from the [[University of Maryland, College Park]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cummings.house.gov/about/full-biography|title=Biography|date=December 11, 2012|newspaper=Congressman Elijah Cummings|access-date=December 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207235903/https://cummings.house.gov/about/full-biography|archive-date=December 7, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rep-elijah-cummings-to-give-commencement-address/2017/12/19/f0e29956-e491-11e7-927a-e72eac1e73b6_story.html|title=Rep. Elijah Cummings to give commencement address|agency=Associated Press|date=December 19, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=December 23, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224042434/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rep-elijah-cummings-to-give-commencement-address/2017/12/19/f0e29956-e491-11e7-927a-e72eac1e73b6_story.html|archive-date=December 24, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

;Honorary degrees
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| School
! style="width:20%;"| Degree
|-
| {{Flagu|District of Columbia}} || '''2003''' || [[Howard University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Recipients of Honorary Degrees (By Year)|url=https://www.howard.edu/secretary/convocations/recipients-year.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814062214/https://www.howard.edu/secretary/convocations/recipients-year.htm|archive-date=August 14, 2011|website=[[Harvard University]]}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Maryland}} || '''2006''' || [[Morgan State University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commencement.morgan.edu/honorary-degrees/|title=Commencement &#124; Honorary Degrees Awarded}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Maryland}} || '''2007''' || [[Goucher College]] || Doctorate<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goucher.edu/news/rep-elijah-cummings.html|title=Goucher community mourns the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings|website=Goucher College}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Maryland}} || '''2014''' || [[Maryland Institute College of Art]] || Doctorate<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mica.edu/annual-events-series/commencement/commencement-2021/2021-commencement-honorees-and-keynote-speakers/history-of-mica-s-honorary-degree-recipients/|title=History of MICA's Honorary Degree Recipients|website=MICA}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Maryland}} || '''2015''' || [[Johns Hopkins University]] || [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] (DHL)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commencement.jhu.edu/home/our-history/honorary-degrees-awarded/|title=Honorary Degrees Awarded}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Maryland}} || '''December 20, 2017''' || [[University of Maryland, College Park]] || Doctor of Public Service<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/umd-celebrates-2017-winter-graduates-bestows-honorary-degrees|title=UMD Celebrates 2017 Winter Graduates, Bestows…|website=UMD Right Now|date=December 20, 2017 }}</ref>
|-
|}

{{Incomplete list|date=June 2020}}

== See also ==
* [[List of African-American United States representatives]]
* [[List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (2000–present)#2010s]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|d=Q934898|s=Author:Elijah Eugene Cummings|c=Category:Elijah Cummings|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
{{CongLinks|congbio=C000984|votesmart=345|fec=H6MD07160 |congress=elijah-cummings/C000984}}
*{{C-SPAN|43300}}
*[http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/39fed/06ushse/html/msa12049.html Biography] at ''Maryland Manual''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160216220556/http://library.cqpress.com/ Congressional Quarterly Voting and Elections Collection.]

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Maryland|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Maryland's 7th congressional district]]|years=1996–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kweisi Mfume]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Eddie Bernice Johnson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]]|years=2003–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mel Watt]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform|House Oversight Committee]]|years=2019}}
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{{s-end}}

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[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Baptists]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Baptists]]
[[Category:21st-century Maryland politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:African-American United States representatives]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in Maryland]]
[[Category:American columnists]]
[[Category:Baltimore City College alumni]]
[[Category:Baptists from Maryland]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Maryland]]
[[Category:Howard University alumni]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Politicians from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Progressivism in the United States]]
[[Category:University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law alumni]]