Marcia Fudge

Marcia Louise Fudge(born October 29, 1952) is an American attorney and retired politician who served as the 18thUnited States Secretary of Housing and Urban Developmentfrom 2021 to 2024. A member of theDemocratic Party, she served as theU.S. representativeforOhio's 11th congressional districtfrom 2008 to 2021. The district included most of the black-majority precincts betweenClevelandandAkron.
Following the death ofStephanie Tubbs Jonesin 2008, Fudge ran unopposed in thespecial electionto replace her.She was chair of theCongressional Black Caucusin the113th Congress.She considered running forSpeaker of the United States House of Representativesat the start of the116th Congressbut eventually announced she would backNancy Pelosi.
Then president-electJoe Bidennominated Fudge as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on December 10, 2020. TheU.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairsadvanced her nomination by a vote of 17–7 on February 4, 2021.She was confirmed by theUnited States Senateon March 10, 2021, by a vote of 66–34.She was virtually sworn in byVice PresidentKamala Harrison March 10, 2021.Upon taking her oath of office, she became the secondAfrican Americanwoman to serve as secretary of housing and urban development.
Fudge was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 29, 1952.As a 1971 graduate ofShaker Heights High School,she earned herBachelor of Sciencein business from theOhio State Universityin 1975.In 1983, she earned aJuris Doctorfrom theCleveland State University College of Law.
After college, she worked as a law clerk and studied legal research. She also worked in theCuyahoga Countyprosecutor's office as Director of Budget and Finance.Fudge has also worked as an auditor for the county's estate tax department and has occasionally served as a visiting judge and as a chief referee for arbitration.
Fudge was the mayor ofWarrensville Heights, Ohio, from 2000 to November 18, 2008.Her 1999 campaign was her first run for any elected office. She was the town's first female and first African American mayor.
Fudge served as chief of staff to U.S. RepresentativeStephanie Tubbs Jonesduring Jones's first term in Congress.She has also served on the board of trustees for theCleveland Public Library.
AfterStephanie Tubbs Jones's death on August 20, 2008, a committee of local Democratic leaders selected Fudge as her replacement on the November ballot. This virtually assured her election in the heavily Democratic, black-majority district.Fudge won the November4 general election, defeatingRepublicanThomas Pekarek with 85% of the vote.She was unopposed in a November 18 special election for the balance of Jones's fifth term, and won with fewer than nine thousand votes cast.She was sworn in on November 19, 2008, giving her almost two months' more seniority than the rest of the 2008 House freshman class.
After the2018 midterms, Fudge considered running forSpeaker of the Housein the2019 election. She later abandoned the bid and supportedNancy Pelosi.
After the2020 United States presidential election, Fudge and allies including RepresentativeJim Clyburnargued that she should be appointed asSecretary of Agriculturein theBiden administration. Fudge was quoted as saying, "You know, it's always 'we want to put the Black person inLaboror HUD'."Biden eventually selectedTom Vilsackas his agriculture secretary; he chose Fudge asSecretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Fudge resigned from the House of Representatives after being confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on March 10, 2021.Aspecial electionto replace her was held on November 2, 2021, withShontel Brownelected to the seat.
During a presentation at theCongressional Black Caucus Foundation's 44th Annual Legislative Conference in September 2014, Fudge said the CBC would mobilize Black voters in the2014 midterm electionsby underscoring Republican attacks onPresident Obama, such asclaimsthat he was not born in the United States.
On December 10, 2020, President Biden announced his plan to nominate Fudge for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.She appeared before theSenate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairson January 28, 2021.On February 4, committee chairmanSherrod Brownadvanced her nomination after a 17–7 vote in favor.
On March 10, 2021, Fudge was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 66–34, garnering the support of every senator caucusing with the Democratic Party and 16 senators from the Republican caucus. She was sworn in by Vice PresidentKamala Harrishours after her confirmation.
In March 2021, during a White House press conference, Fudge made comments on the upcomingSenate electionin her home state of Ohio suggesting that Democrats could win it. As a result, she was accused of violating theHatch Act of 1939.After an investigation, theOffice of Special Counseldetermined she had violated the Hatch Act. Fudge received a warning.
In one of her first acts as secretary, Fudge discussed the effects ofhomelessnesson people of color,evictionsin the United States, and creating avenues for fair housing with civil rights leaders includingMarc MorialandAl Sharpton.
On March 11, 2024, Fudge announced herresignationto take effect on March 22, stepping down from public life.She is now a partner at the law firm ofTaft Stettinius & Hollister.
Fudge was the president of theDelta Sigma Thetasorority from 1996 to 2000,co-chair of the sorority's National Social Action Commission, and a member of its Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter.In 2003, she was a member of the Shaker Heights Alumni Association's Hall of Fame Class.
Fudge has been a member of the Glenville Church of God and is currently a member of Zion Chapel Baptist Church.
In 2015, Fudge wrote a letter asking for leniency in the sentencing of Cleveland politicianLance Masonon felony assault and domestic violence charges.Fudge described Mason as "kind", and wrote that "Lance [...] has assured me that something like this will never happen again."Mason subsequently attacked and killed his ex-wife, in 2018, stabbing her 59 times.After the murder, Fudge released a statement saying she condemned the crimes committed by Mason.