US Rep. Elijah Cummings, a longtime Maryland Democrat and a key figure leading investigations into President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 68, his office announced early Thursday morning.

He died of "complications concerning longstanding health challenges," his office said in a statement.

Cummings was born in 1951 and raised in Baltimore — the city that is home to his district. The son of former sharecroppers, Cummings graduated from Baltimore City College High School in 1969.

He practiced law and served for 14 years in the Maryland House of Delegates, where, according to his congressional website, he became the first African-American in Maryland history to be named speaker pro tem.

He was first elected to the US Congress in 1996. Cummings was re-elected last year in the 7th Congressional District with 76% of the vote.

Cummings is seen in a yearbook photo from his senior year of high school. He graduated in 1969.
Cummings is seen in a yearbook photo from his senior year of high school. He graduated in 1969.
From Elijah Cummings
Cummings is photographed in 1985.
Cummings is photographed in 1985.
Afro Newspaper/Gado/Getty Images
Cummings at his campaign headquarters in 1988.
Cummings at his campaign headquarters in 1988.
Afro Newspaper/Gado/Getty Images
Cummings listens to testimony during a committee hearing in October 1996.
Cummings listens to testimony during a committee hearing in October 1996.
Maureen Keating/Getty Images
US Sen. John Kerry chats with Cummings during a ceremony in Topeka, Kansas, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
US Sen. John Kerry chats with Cummings during a ceremony in Topeka, Kansas, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Viola Pearson, the widow of Levi Pearson, talks with Cummings after a ceremony honoring her husband with the Congressional Gold Medal in September 2004. Levi Pearson was among four people honored for their involvement in Briggs v. Elliott, a court case that challenged segregation in South Carolina schools.
Viola Pearson, the widow of Levi Pearson, talks with Cummings after a ceremony honoring her husband with the Congressional Gold Medal in September 2004. Levi Pearson was among four people honored for their involvement in Briggs v. Elliott, a court case that challenged segregation in South Carolina schools.
Tom Williams/Getty Images
Retired North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye swears in Cummings, US Rep. Melvin Watt and US Rep. Corrine Brown as members of the Congressional Black Caucus in January 2005. Watt was replacing Cummings as chairman.
Retired North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye swears in Cummings, US Rep. Melvin Watt and US Rep. Corrine Brown as members of the Congressional Black Caucus in January 2005. Watt was replacing Cummings as chairman.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Cummings attends the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
Cummings attends the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
Preston Keres/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Cummings rearranges flowers on the stairs of the house where his nephew, Christopher Cummings, was killed in a June 2011 shooting in Norfolk, Virginia.
Cummings rearranges flowers on the stairs of the house where his nephew, Christopher Cummings, was killed in a June 2011 shooting in Norfolk, Virginia.
Stephen M. Katz/AP
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cummings after signing HR 4348, the Surface Transportation Bill, during a ceremony at the White House in July 2012.
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cummings after signing HR 4348, the Surface Transportation Bill, during a ceremony at the White House in July 2012.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
Cummings and his wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, arrive at a state dinner hosted by Obama at the White House in February 2014.
Cummings and his wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, arrive at a state dinner hosted by Obama at the White House in February 2014.
Pool/Getty Images North
Cummings takes part in a walk-out outside the House of Representatives in December 2014. People gathered to protest the Eric Garner and Michael Brown grand jury decisions, which did not bring charges against the police officers involved in their deaths.
Cummings takes part in a walk-out outside the House of Representatives in December 2014. People gathered to protest the Eric Garner and Michael Brown grand jury decisions, which did not bring charges against the police officers involved in their deaths.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
US Rep. Trey Gowdy confers with Cummings in January 2015, at the start of a public hearing to investigate the 2012 attacks on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
US Rep. Trey Gowdy confers with Cummings in January 2015, at the start of a public hearing to investigate the 2012 attacks on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Cummings addresses mourners at a funeral for Freddie Gray in April 2015. Gray died after sustaining a neck injury while in police custody.
Cummings addresses mourners at a funeral for Freddie Gray in April 2015. Gray died after sustaining a neck injury while in police custody.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Cummings marches with protesters in Baltimore after authorities released a report on the death of Freddie Gray.
Cummings marches with protesters in Baltimore after authorities released a report on the death of Freddie Gray.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Cummings stands with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after endorsing her at an event in Baltimore in April 2016.
Cummings stands with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after endorsing her at an event in Baltimore in April 2016.
Yuri Gripas/AFP/Getty Images
Cummings speaks to reporters during a Democratic Caucus meeting in November 2018.
Cummings speaks to reporters during a Democratic Caucus meeting in November 2018.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images
During a committee meeting in June 2018, Cummings asks Republican colleagues to intervene in the separation of immigrant families at the border.
During a committee meeting in June 2018, Cummings asks Republican colleagues to intervene in the separation of immigrant families at the border.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi congratulates Cummings in January 2019 during a ceremonial swearing-in.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi congratulates Cummings in January 2019 during a ceremonial swearing-in.
Alex Edelman/AFP/Getty Images
Cummings heads to a classified briefing regarding Russian sanctions in January 2019.
Cummings heads to a classified briefing regarding Russian sanctions in January 2019.
Erin Schaff/The New York Times/Redux
Cummings speaks with US Rep. Mark Meadows in June 2019, just after a panel voted to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for failing to turn over subpoenaed documents related to the Trump administration's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
Cummings speaks with US Rep. Mark Meadows in June 2019, just after a panel voted to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for failing to turn over subpoenaed documents related to the Trump administration's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP