5 Facts about Elijah Cummings’ Wife Maya Rockeymoore
She Was Appointed Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party
Maya Rockeymoore, 47, married Rep. Elijah Cummings in 2008. They don’t have any children together, although Cummings has three children from previous relationships.
A Texas native, Rockeymoore is the daughter of Hazel Brown Rockeymoore and U.S. Air Force soldier Thomas Charles Rockeymoore. Maya, her brother, Mark, and sister, Meredith, grew up in a military family with parents active in the community, in the Democratic party, and in their church.
She Ran for Maryland Governor
In 2017, Rockeymoore announced her bid for Maryland Governor, her first run for a public office. She was one of the two women and three African-American candidates in the Democratic primary.
She hoped to be the Democratic gubernatorial candidate against Gov. Larry Hogan in the 2018 elections. If elected to governor, she would have been the first woman and first black governor of Maryland.
She gained the endorsement of EMILY’s List, a pro-choice political action committee that aims to elect female candidates.
However, Rockeymoore suspended her campaign in January 2018 citing “personal considerations.” Not long after, it was announced her husband was hospitalized over health concerns.
She Has a Doctorate from Purdue University
Though a novice in governance, Rockeymoore has an impressive academic background and experience with public policy. She proudly proclaims her HBCU education from Prairie View A&M University in Texas.
She graduated from PVAMU in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and government. She later acquired her master’s degree from Purdue University in Indiana, in 1996.
She went on to receive her PhD in political science from Purdue in 2000. At Purdue, she specialized in public policy, international relations, American politics, and African-American studies.
She Was a Congressional Aide
While pursuing her masters in Indiana, Rockeymoore served as an administrative assistant to the director at the Marion County Health Department. Soon after receiving her post-graduate degree, she came to Washington, D.C., where she gained experience in public policy.
She worked in the office of former Congressman Melvin Watt as a Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Fellow. She later joined the staff of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee.
From 1999 to 2000, Rockeymoore was a congressional aide and chief of staff in the office of Congressman Charles Rangel, the Representative for New York districts from 1971 to 2017.
She Is a Policy Consultant
In 2005, Rockeymoore established Global Policy Solutions, LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based firm. The team of consultants under Rockeymoore’s leadership works with corporate, philanthropic, academic, non-profit, and governmental entities to make policy work for people, communities, and the environment.
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