CLEVELAND — Editor's note: Video at the top of this story was originally published on Dec. 9, 2020, before Fudge's nomination was made official.
After reports surfaced earlier this week that president-elect Joe Biden would nominate Rep. Marcia Fudge as the next U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, it was made official Thursday morning.
Biden’s team issued the following statement while nominating Fudge to the role:
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, a leading voice for working families who has represented Ohio’s 11th Congressional District for the last twelve years, is nominated to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. A former mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, and past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Fudge is a longtime champion of affordable housing, urban revitalization, infrastructure investment, and other reforms to enhance the safety, prosperity, and sustainability of American communities. If confirmed, she will be the first woman to lead HUD in more than 40 years and the second Black woman in history to lead the Department.
A graduate of the Ohio State University and of Cleveland State University's Marshall College of Law, Fudge first worked for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office and eventually rose to the rank of Director of Budget and Finance. She made her first run for political office in 1999, and was elected the first African American mayor of Warrensville Heights.
Fudge was reelected mayor twice before her life changed forever in 2008, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones died of a cerebral hemorrhage suffered while driving her car. The congresswoman's death at the age of just 58 sent shockwaves across the area, with Fudge being personally affected, having served as Jones' chief of staff before becoming mayor. Fudge decided to run in the race to fill Jones' 11th district seat, and after easily winning the Democratic primary cruised to victory in the heavily Democratic district.
Her nomination comes as Biden’s team announced a handful of other key staff nominations Thursday, which you can explore here.
Now, if confirmed, eyes will turn to who could fill her congressional seat. 3News' Mark Naymik outlined some of the potential contenders here.
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NOTE: Video above was posted on Dec. 8, 2020, before Fudge's nomination was made official.