Charles Rangel, 23-term congressmember from Harlem and 'Lion of Lenox Avenue,' dies at 94

Charles Rangel, a longtime member of Congress from Harlem and founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, died Monday at age 94.

Rangel, born in Harlem in 1930 and known as the “Lion of Lenox Avenue,” was first elected to Congress in 1971, defeating Rev. Adam Clayton Powell for his seat. He went on to serve 23 terms in the House of Representatives.

Rangel was the last remaining member of Harlem’s storied “Gang of Four,” a political coalition of Black lawmakers that included former Mayor David Dinkins; Basil Paterson, father of former Gov. David Paterson; and Percy Sutton, the longtime business and political leader who’d once been legal counsel to Malcom X. Rangel eventually became the first Black leader of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee before stepping aside from that role in 2010 amid an ethics investigation.

He retired after serving 46 years in Congress.

Rangel joined the U.S. Army at 17, and served in the Korean war. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for leading a group of men out of a Chinese encirclement while wounded, according to the Korean War Legacy Foundation.

“Rangel was a war hero, history-making congressman, and master lawmaker,” a statement from the City College of New York that announced his death said. “He served for 23 terms in the House of Representatives and was cited as the most effective lawmaker in Congress, leading all of his colleagues in passing legislation.”

I used to think the sun rose and set politically with Charlie Rangel. And in fact, that it did.

Former New York Assemblymember Keith Wright

During his years in Congress, Rangel played an integral role in passing numerous high-profile laws, including the Affordable Care Act, one of then-President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievements. He was a critic of the illicit drug trade, an advocate for anti-poverty efforts and programs to boost inner-city neighborhoods, and the author of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit.

In an interview with WNYC in 2016, Rangel said that as he got older “the more I am convinced that the things that I'm proudest of have been more damn biblical than political.”

“You know, I mean, poverty is a terrible disease, if you do nothing to cure it,” he said. “Poverty's not too bad. When you have hopes and you believe you can get out of it, it's not nearly as bad [as] being middle class with no hope for improvement.”

Monday, Rangel protege and former New York Assemblymember Keith Wright told Gothamist he remembered the congressmember as an unmatched leader in Harlem politics whose influence was felt far beyond the city.

"I used to think the sun rose and set politically with Charlie Rangel. And in fact, that it did,” Wright said.

Dr. Christina Greer, an associate professor of political science at Fordham University, called his death a closing of a chapter of New York City politics and Black politics across the United States.

“His mark on New York City and national politics can't be denied,” Greer said. “We're still unraveling the ways that Charlie Rangel influenced national — and even international — politics."

The Rev. Al Sharpton said on social media Monday that he first met Rangel as a teenager and remembered him as a “true Harlem giant, a trailblazing legislator, and an unshakable force in American politics.”

Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who now holds the seat Rangel once filled, described him as a “dear friend, a beloved leader and a stalwart of our community,” and credited him for advancing initiatives such as the expansion of the Second Avenue Subway.

Mayor Eric Adams also remembered Rangel as a force in local and national politics.

“For nearly 50 years, he represented his community as one of our city’s greatest elected leaders,” Adams said in a statement. “I am so sad to lose a dear friend and exemplary model of devotion and courage. My prayers are with his family, Harlem, and all who knew him.”

Rangel’s tenure in Congress was not without controversy. He resigned as the chair of the Ways and Means Committee in 2010, after a two-year investigation by a House subcommittee into his personal finances.

The subcommittee found Rangel guilty on 11 ethics violations. According to reports at the time, Rangel remained defiant after the conviction, saying he had been deprived of due process rights during the investigation.

This story has been updated with more information.