Elijah Cummings, longtime Congressman and Chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee has passed away.
Cummings’ office said the cause was “complications concerning longstanding health challenges."
He was 68 years old.
As news of his passing began to circulate, The Morning News with Dave Lee on News Talk 830 WCCO spoke with local officials who knew him well.
Governor Tim Walz served with Cummings in Congress for 12 years
“I woke up to the news. Just heartbroken. Elijah was just bigger than life. These people have public personas and they’re seen in some of these big moments, but you know when you work with these people, you celebrate birthdays together and Elijah was just funny, bigger than life.
“When I went to Congress my daughter was a Kindergartener, she loved Elijah Cummings. The Uncle who would bounce her around and things like that. So I am just heart broken. He was more than a friend. I think a mentor, understanding how Congress works and how you conduct yourself. Known for his hard work, detailed work, and so, just a loss. I feel it personally and I think for the country because Congress certainly never has a very high approval rating, but I still am very proud regardless of which side of the aisle people came from, these are really good folks, they have families. They’re co-workers. Having a loss like that is just too bad.”
Attorney General Keith Ellison also served with Cummings in Congress
“Elijah was a wonderful man. Just a gem of a person. When I first got to Congress he was one of those folks who said ‘Hey, call on me any time, lets grab coffee, what are your goals and how can I help?’ In fact, last time I talked to Elijah, I called him because we are quite concerned about e-cigarettes and vaping and health effects and his committee just had a hearing on that very issue. So I called him up, no more than a few weeks ago, and said ‘Hey what do you guys know about this?’ He spend half-an-hour on the phone talking about how we can protect health and safety of kids.
“He lived a life of service and he was a giving caring person. He put his heart and soul in to it. He was a tremendously smart man, had an amazing intellect and he used it for public service and good. I am just really sad this morning about losing Elijah Cummings.”
Representative Colin Peterson
“(Elijah) Cummings cannot be replaced. He was one-of-a-kind. He is the American story. Son of share croppers, representing a tough area. But, the guy was just amazing in terms of how he could get along with people. All of the stuff that is going on with the President not getting along with Adam Schiff and others, that did not happen with Elijah Cummings.
“He was a straight-forward guy. He was tough but you knew where he stood and he was fair. Listen, I don’t think you are ever going to find another person like him that can bring what he brought to the Congress. He’s going to be missed.”
Listen to the full interviews below:
