What Happened to Congressman Charlie Rangel? Inside the Veteran Lawmaker’s Sudden Return to the Spotlight

Veteran New York Congressman Charlie Rangel, a towering figure in Harlem politics and the first Black chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, died Monday at the age of 94. Harlem’s “Lion of Lenox Avenue” Leaves an Outsized Legacy Rangel represented New York’s 13th Congressional District—anchored in Central Harlem—for 46 years, making him one of the longest-serving lawmakers in U.S. history. Elected in 1970 after unseating civil-rights icon Adam Clayton Powell Jr., he quickly became a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a go-to deal-maker for mayors, governors and presidents seeking insight into urban America. Career Highlights • First Black chair of House Ways and Means (2007) • Architect of the Empowerment Zone program and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit • Key voice behind the Affordable Care Act and expanded Earned Income Tax Credit • Decorated Korean War veteran awarded the Bronze Star for heroism A Fighter for “the Little Guy” Known for his booming laugh, razor-sharp wit and immaculate mustache, Rangel styled himself as “a successful politician who more than happens to be Black.” He secured billions in federal dollars for New York City hospitals, public housing and small businesses, while insisting that tax policy “lift working families, not just Wall Street.” From Barrio to Barrio: Changing District, Constant Advocacy Over decades of redistricting, Rangel’s constituency evolved from majority-Black Harlem to a multicultural tapestry including Dominican Washington Heights and a slice of Queens. He nonetheless cruised to reelection 23 times, often with margins topping 80 percent. Ethics Cloud Couldn’t Eclipse Influence Rangel’s career dimmed in 2010 when the House Ethics Committee cited him for unpaid taxes on a Dominican villa and for accepting corporate-funded Caribbean trips. He relinquished the Ways and Means gavel and was formally censured—only the 23rd member ever to face that punishment. Still, voters returned him to Washington two more times before he retired in 2017, declaring that “no bad day can erase a lifetime of good.” Tributes From Across the Aisle • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Rangel as “a great man who never stopped fighting for New York.” • Rev. Al Sharpton called him “a trailblazing legislator and unshakable force in American politics.” • Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo hailed his “Harlem fire” and mentorship of a generation of city leaders. Roots in Harlem, Eyes on the World Born on June 11, 1930, Rangel grew up in a Lenox Avenue row house, dropped out of high school, then earned degrees from NYU and St. John’s Law School on the G.I. Bill. His war-zone heroism informed a lifelong campaign to reinstate the military draft, arguing that shared sacrifice would make Congress think twice before sending troops abroad. Family and Final Years Rangel is survived by son Steven, daughter Alicia Rangel Haughton and three grandsons. His wife of 60 years, Alma Carter Rangel, died in 2024. Even in retirement he remained a fixture on Harlem streets, greeting neighbors with, “You know I’ve never had a bad day since Korea.” Why His Story Matters Now As national debates rage over voting rights, income inequality and U.S. engagement overseas, Rangel’s career offers a blueprint for wielding congressional seniority to advance progressive policy while mastering the art of bipartisan negotiation. His passing leaves Harlem without its lion but cements a legacy that will echo through the halls of Congress—and up and down Lenox Avenue—for decades to come.