House Democrats set to elect first Black speaker in January
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is positioned to become the top chamber leader, placing him second in the presidential line of succession.
By Jonathan Ramirez ·
The U.S. House of Representatives will hold a floor vote for speaker when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, is expected to win the position, making him the first Black lawmaker to serve as speaker.
Jeffries has served in the House since 2013, representing parts of Brooklyn. He was elected minority leader in 2022, becoming the first Black politician to lead either party in the House or Senate. His elevation to speaker would place him second in the presidential line of succession, directly after the vice president.
His path to the gavel began in the New York State Assembly, where he spent six years working on regulating warrantless stop-and-frisk searches by the New York City Police Department. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer in private practice. He credits a law school legal clinic for sparking his interest in criminal justice reform.
As a member of Congress during the first Trump administration, Jeffries led the effort to pass the bipartisan First Step Act, which reduced sentences for some drug crimes. He worked closely with Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, on that legislation. Jeffries told Time that securing the measure required a coalition of unusual suspects.
Jeffries faced internal party criticism this year for meeting privately with Kushner. The New York Times first reported the meeting, which Jeffries later confirmed. He said he accepted Kushner’s request to discuss affordability issues. Democrats stated they intend to hold the administration accountable.
Jeffries previously served as an impeachment manager during the Senate trial regarding President Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine. He has not committed to pursuing impeachment again in the current term. In April, he told Fox News that impeachment was not a top priority for Democrats. In September, he told ABC that the party has ruled nothing in or out.
Jeffries stated on Tuesday night that the recent election results signal a need for dramatic change. He said, "This is a change election, and we understand as House Democrats that we need to deliver dramatic change." He added that things are broken and that a new Congress must put the American people first.
The new House leadership must manage a diverse caucus that includes a growing number of Democratic Socialist of America-aligned members. Jeffries has described himself as a Black progressive who views systemic racism as a primary driver of American inequities, distinguishing this view from the class-based focus of hard-left progressives.
