Today, we begin a new series of Conversations with the Candidates: 2020 in advance of the special primary election in February, and the local and national primary elections in April.

The congressional vacancy in the 7th District created by the death last month of Representative Elijah Cummings has attracted 32 candidates to an election to succeed him, including Congressman Cummings’ widow, a former aid, four state legislators and a law professor.

Twenty-four Democrats and eight Republicans have filed to run in a special primary election on February 4th. The general election for the 7th District will take place on April 28th, which is primary day for all other races in MD, including the Presidential Primary.

Kweisi Mfume joins Tom today in Studio A. He is familiar to many 7th District voters. He held the seat for five terms -- from 1987 to 1996 -- before leaving Congress to head up the NAACP. He stepped down from that position in November 2004.

Since 2012, he has served as chairman of Morgan State University’s Board of Regents. He has also worked as a broadcaster, in the nonprofit health care industry, and as a consultant.

Kweisi Mfume is 71 years old. He is married to Dr. Tiffany McMillan. He has six grown children. He lives in Southwest Baltimore.

We invite listener comments and questions for Congressman Mfume.

This conversation was live-streamed on WYPR's Facebook page. To watch the video, click here.

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