Hakeem Jeffries Set to Become First Black Speaker of the House
The New York Democrat will take the top leadership role in January, capping a career that began in Brooklyn and moved through state assembly and federal lawmaking.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is on the verge of becoming the first Black person to serve as speaker of the House. The New York Democrat will lead the chamber when the 119th Congress convenes on Jan. 3.
Jeffries has represented parts of Brooklyn in the House since 2013. His path to the speaker’s chair began in the New York State Assembly, where he spent six years working on legislation to regulate stop-and-frisk searches by the police. He later entered federal politics as a rank-and-file member focused on criminal justice policy.
His legislative record includes leading the effort to pass the First Step Act during the first Trump administration. That bipartisan bill reduced sentences for certain drug offenses. To secure the necessary support, Jeffries worked closely with Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law at the time. Jeffries described the collaboration as a partnership that produced results, noting that getting things done often requires a coalition of unusual suspects.
The move to the speaker’s office places Jeffries second in the presidential line of succession, behind the vice president. He was elected minority leader in 2022, a role that made him the first Black politician to lead either party in either chamber of Congress. As speaker, he will guide a Democratic caucus that has pledged to deliver dramatic change to voters.
Jeffries has navigated internal party dynamics throughout his career. He was a sponsor of Medicare for All proposals and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, though he has drawn skepticism from some activists on the left. In a 2021 interview with The Atlantic, he said he would not bend the knee to hard-left democratic socialism, arguing that his experience as a Black man shapes his view of systemic racism more than class.
He also served as an impeachment manager during the Senate trial over Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine. In that case, Trump withheld military aid while urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to announce investigations into Joe Biden. Jeffries has said impeachment is not a top priority for Democrats in the new term, though he has not ruled anything in or out.
His current focus is on lowering costs for Americans. Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday night that the recent election was a change election and that Democrats need to put the American people first.
He has faced questions this year about a private meeting with Kushner, which The New York Times first reported. Jeffries confirmed the meeting, which he said was held at Kushner’s request to discuss affordability. He added that Democrats intend to hold the administration accountable.
The House will hold a floor vote for speaker when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.
