WASHINGTON — Cedric Richmond, a prime aide to President Joe Biden, plans to resign from his publish and tackle a brand new position on the Democratic National Committee early subsequent month, a White House official confirmed Monday.
Richmond, director of the Office of Public Engagement, can be the highest-ranking Biden aide to go away because the president took workplace.
He will turn into a senior adviser on the DNC, in accordance with a White House official who spoke on the situation of anonymity.
“Richmond will travel the country to help the DNC team raise the additional resources we need to do even more, and act as a national surrogate to help communicate our message on behalf of the Democratic National Committee, the president, and vice president,” the official mentioned.
Those are among the main tasks of DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison, who has chafed on the authority White House aides wield over him. Harrison grew to become so annoyed at one level that he thought of resigning.
But in an announcement supplied by the White House, Harrison welcomed the news of Richmond’s anticipated arrival.
“We look forward to having Cedric join our already strong team as we continue to work in close partnership with the White House, and our sister committees to protect and expand our Democratic majorities,” Harrison mentioned.
NBC News reported on Richmond’s deliberate departure earlier Monday, citing 4 individuals conversant in discussions about his future.
Richmond, who performed golf with Biden on Sunday, has lengthy thought of a departure from the White House and a attainable project on the DNC. Friends say he desires to spend extra time together with his household in New Orleans and have the liberty to earn greater than the $180,000 wage cap for White House aides.
One cause the choice took a while, in accordance with one of many 4 sources, is that the White House is attempting to keep away from the notion that Harrison is being “layered” — retaining his title, however poised to lose energy.
“The President and Chair Harrison are working hand-in-hand to build a strong Democratic Party and deliver our message to the American people and supporting Democrats,” Richmond mentioned in an announcement Monday. “I look forward to working in partnership with Jaime and the talented and hard-working crew at the DNC to amplify the White House’s message as we head toward the midterms.”
The specifics of Richmond’s DNC position have been beneath negotiation, in accordance with the sources. One supply mentioned it can doubtless be as a “consultant — not day to day.” A second supply mentioned it will be in an “advisory” publish centered on the November midterm elections.
The pending transfer comes towards the backdrop of rising Democratic nervousness in regards to the midterms and waning possibilities for Biden to enact his legislative agenda.
Few individuals in politics are nearer to Biden than Richmond, who served as co-chairman of Biden’s 2020 presidential marketing campaign. Biden appreciates the electoral politics expertise Richmond developed throughout a decade representing New Orleans within the House, in accordance with individuals who labored on the marketing campaign and within the White House.
Moving Richmond to the DNC could sign to lawmakers that Biden takes the specter of a Republican takeover of Congress severely. At the identical time, Richmond’s relationships with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and senior administration officers would preserve him within the White House loop.
“Cedric Richmond will still have access,” one celebration official mentioned.
Adrian Saenz, who serves as Richmond’s deputy on the White House, might be in line to take over as director of the Office of Public Engagement. Saenz is a former Obama administration official and Capitol Hill aide.
In current months, Harrison has ramped up donor conferences, and the DNC has damaged month-to-month fundraising information. That fell simply in need of the Republican National Committee, which reported out-raising the DNC within the first three months of the yr, with much less money readily available.
“It’s a sign that the president is going to get on the road more and do more engagement politically,” a supply near Richmond mentioned.
Shannon Pettypiece contributed.