Story highlights Rep. Elijah Cummings endorsed Hillary Clinton for president

The Maryland primary is April 26

Baltimore, Maryland (CNN) After Hillary Clinton testified before the House Select Committee on Benghazi in October, aides said she was personally grateful for Rep. Elijah Cummings' work as the panel's top Democrat.

On Sunday Cummings officially endorsed Clinton, ahead of Maryland's April 26 primary. Cummings had held out for months in endorsing Clinton, the only Democratic member of Maryland's congressional delegation to do so.

Cummings introduced Clinton and recounted her resume highlights, including her experience as secretary of state and senator from New York.

"This is why I will be voting for Hillary Rodham Clinton," Cummings said. "I am asking everyone one of you... to vote for Hillary. To be abundantly clear, I am endorsing Hillary Clinton for president."

Cummings said after his speech on Sunday that he had wanted to wait until the Benghazi committee wound up. Yet with the panel continuing to work, Cummings said he felt time was short to back a candidate, a bit more than two weeks out from the Old Line State's primary.

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