Mfume Rejoins House, in Vacant Seat of Late Elijah Cummings

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) conducts a ceremonial swearing-in for Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), accompanied by his wife Tiffany Mfume (C) at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, on May 5, 2020. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

WASHINGTON—Maryland Democrat Kweisi Mfume rejoined the House on May 5 to replace the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, taking his oath of office with a protective mask in his left hand, the latest symbol of how Congress and the country are adjusting to the CCP virus pandemic.

Mfume will represent a majority-black Baltimore-area district that has been hit hard by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, and its near shutdown of the economy.

Mfume, 71, raised his right hand and took the oath from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a week after he was easily elected to complete Cummings’ two-year term.

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) talks to guests and fellow lawmakers following a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony conducted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, on May 5, 2020, (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

Cummings, who was 68, died last October during his 12th term in office. He was chairman of the House Oversight Committee.

Mfume served in the House from 1987 until 1996, when he left to become chair of the NAACP. He led the civil rights organization until 2004.

Mfume is expected to be reelected this fall for a full two-year term that would begin in January. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic.

Mfume’s swearing in leaves the House with 233 Democrats, 196 Republicans and one independent. There are five vacancies.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report