Former NY Democratic Rep Charlie Rangel dead at 94

Former Rep. Charles Rangel, who served in Congress for more than four decades, has died at the age of 94.

The New York Democrat, who served from 1971 until 2017, was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the first Black lawmaker to helm the House Ways and Means Committee, according to the City College of New York. A Korean War veteran, Rangel earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., lauded Rangel in a statement on Monday, calling him “a patriot, hero, statesman, leader, trailblazer, change agent and champion for justice,” who was “a friend and mentor” to him.

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Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also described Rangel as a “friend” and “mentor” —  the Democrat, who is currently running for New York City Mayor, said Rangel taught him “that leadership is about lifting others up and in the face of injustice, you don’t flinch, you don’t fold—you fight.”

In a post on X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., described Rangel as “a great man, a great friend, and someone who never stopped fighting for his constituents and the best of America.”

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House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal, D-Mass., said in a statement that Rangel “was not only a great chairman but an even better man.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is also a former U.S. Senator from New York, noted that Rangel had urged her to run for Senate.

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“I’ll miss Charlie Rangel, a beloved icon and public servant of New York. He was a proud veteran who loved serving his Harlem constituents. He urged me to run for the Senate and later was an invaluable colleague. Rest in peace and power, my friend,” Clinton said in a tweet.