Fudge resigns to go to HUD after voting for COVID-19 relief

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) cast her final vote in the House in favor of the sweeping coronavirus aid package via proxy before officially stepping down from her seat on Wednesday. 

Her official resignation came shortly after the Senate voted to confirm her as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Fudge was confirmed in a 66-34 vote.

In her resignation letter, Fudge thanked her colleagues and constituents for their support during her 12-year tenure in the lower chamber. 

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio since November 2008,” Fudge wrote. “My appreciation for their support as I sought to represent their interests and those of many Americans for whom I could be a voice is boundless. I will always remember my colleagues and friends who have become a part of my family in the last 12 years.”

Fudge was first elected to the House in 2008 and previously served as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Prior to coming to Congress, the Ohio Democrat served as the mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

President Biden announced his plans to tap Fudge for the HUD position in December. 

In her new role, Fudge is expected to play a critical role in the administration’s efforts to combat the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, with the country facing a substantial increase in homelessness and issues with housing affordability due to the pandemic.