Hakeem Jeffries to Lead House as First Black Speaker

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is poised to become the first Black speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats secured a decisive victory in the recent midterm elections, setting the stage for Jeffries to assume the top legislative role. The New York Democrat will take the gavel when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.

Jeffries has served in the House since 2013, representing parts of Brooklyn. Over nearly 14 years, he rose from a rank-and-file member to a top party lieutenant under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He was elected House minority leader in 2022, becoming the first Black politician to lead either party in the House or Senate. As speaker, he will rank second in the presidential line of succession, behind the vice president.

The New York representative began his career in politics after a stint as a private lawyer. He credits his time in a law school legal clinic with sparking his interest in criminal justice reform. Jeffries told NY1 in 2023 that he wanted to address what he viewed as a broken system. Before Congress, he spent six years in the New York State Assembly, where he worked on regulating warrantless stop-and-frisk searches by the New York City Police Department.

During the first Trump administration, Jeffries led efforts to pass the bipartisan First Step Act. The legislation reduced sentences for certain drug offenses. The work required close collaboration with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of then-President Donald Trump. Jeffries described the partnership as productive, noting that unusual coalitions are often necessary to pass legislation in Washington.

This year, Jeffries faced criticism within his party for meeting privately with Kushner. The New York Times first reported the meeting, which Jeffries later confirmed. He stated he took the meeting at Kushner's request to discuss affordability. Jeffries added that Democrats intend to hold the current administration accountable.

Jeffries has navigated diverse factions within the Democratic caucus. He was formerly a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and sponsored Medicare for All proposals. As speaker, he must manage a growing number of members aligned with Democratic Socialists of America and the party's left wing. He said in 2021 that he does not bend to hard-left democratic socialism, citing his experience as a Black man in America.

He argued that while hard-left progressives often focus on class, his perspective is shaped by systemic racism. Jeffries also served as an impeachment manager during the Senate trial of Donald Trump regarding Ukraine. He has not committed to pursuing impeachment in the new term. In April, he said that it was not a top priority, and in September, he said that Democrats have not ruled anything in or out.

The primary focus for the new Congress, according to Jeffries, is lowering costs for Americans. He said on Tuesday night that Democrats understand the need to deliver dramatic change. He described the current system as broken and emphasized the need for a Congress that prioritizes the American people.

The House will hold a floor vote for speaker on Jan. 3. The result will formalize Jeffries' position at the head of the chamber. The election marks the culmination of his legislative career.