This is very sad news. Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA-37) has unexpectedy passed away.
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Calif., died early Sunday of cancer, an aide said.
Millender-McDonald, who was 68, died at her home in Carson, Calif., said her chief of staff, Bandele McQueen…
…The congresswoman had asked for a four- to six-week leave of absence from the House last week to deal with her illness.
She was in her seventh term representing a Southern California district that includes Compton, Long Beach and parts of Los Angeles.
This year she became chair of the Committee on House Administration, which oversees operations of the House and federal election procedures.
Ms. Millender-MacDonald had just assumed the chair of House Administration after serving six full terms in the House. In that position she was in charge of the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, financial disclosures of House races, and oversight of all federal elections, and more.
This is terrible loss, and it appears she was only diagnosed with cancer on April 18th.
Her chair will probably go to Rep. Bob Brady (D-PA-01) who is running for mayor of Philadelphia. This could throw a wildcard into the race, or even lead Brady to drop out.
There will be a special election in California’s 37th District. There are lots of things to consider arising from this tragedy but, for now, my thoughts are with Ms. Millender-McDonald’s family.