WILMINGTON — U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware) will serve as the co-chair of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration committee, according to an announcement.
Blunt Rochester, the first woman and African American to represent Delaware in Congress, will be the second Delawarean named to the nonprofit organization tasked with planning and executing activities surrounding the Jan. 20 inauguration. She is a longtime Biden ally and served on his committee to select Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to be his running mate.
“Delaware sent Joe Biden to the Senate 48 years ago and now America is sending him to the White House,” Blunt Rochester said in a prepared statement. “I am proud to serve as co-chair on the Presidential Inaugural Committee … as we create an inauguration that keeps people safe and allows Americans across the country to participate in this part of history.”
Blunt Rochester will serve as co-chair alongside U.S. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, all who supported the president-elect throughout his campaign.
Blunt Rochester will also join Delaware State University President Tony Allen among the ranks of Delawareans to oversee Biden’s presidential transition. Allen, who is a longtime confidant and former speechwriter for Biden throughout his career, was appointed the CEO of the Presidential Inaugural Committee last week.
With the record number of COVID-19 cases rising with almost every day, it is unlikely a traditional Inauguration Day ceremony – with hundreds of thousands of people gathering near the steps of the U.S. Capitol — will occur. Blunt Rochester stressed that safety is paramount, following the messaging from the Biden-Harris team. The Democratic National Committee pivoted to an online format, with Biden speaking live at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.
“As our country faces significant challenges, I know this inauguration will reflect President-elect Biden’s profound empathy for others, commitment to uniting the country, and relentless optimism for our future,” Blunt Rochester said.
By Katie Tabeling
