Politics

Widow Of Elijah Cummings Running To Succeed Him In Congress

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings said she's stepping down from her current role as chairwoman of Maryland's Democratic Party in order to run.

Widow Of Elijah Cummings Running To Succeed Him In Congress
Getty Images
SMS

The widow of late Congressman Elijah Cummings is going to run for his vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings told The Baltimore Sun that she's stepping down from her current role as chairwoman of Maryland's Democratic Party in order to run. 

Her husband died last month from "complications concerning longstanding health challenges." He'd represented Baltimore's 7th district for more than two decades on Capitol Hill. 

Rockeymoore Cummings says it was her husband's wish to have her fill his seat.

The filing deadline for the special election is Nov. 20. Multiple Republican and Democratic candidates have already filed to run in the primary race scheduled for Feb. 4.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.