Hakeem Jeffries Set to Make History as First Black Speaker of the House
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Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is expected to be elected speaker of the House, a historic milestone that would make him the first Black lawmaker to hold the post and place him second in the line of presidential succession.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, is expected to be elected speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3, marking a historic breakthrough as the first Black lawmaker to hold the position. Jeffries, who became House minority leader in 2022, would also be second in the presidential line of succession after the vice president.
Jeffries, who has served in Congress since 2013 and previously in the New York State Assembly, said the election represents a "change election" and stressed the need for a Congress that puts the American people first rather than serving entrenched power.
He highlighted his background in criminal-justice reform, pointing to his work on the First Step Act during the previous administration and his earlier efforts to rein in stop-and-frisk practices in New York City. Jeffries also referenced a meeting with President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, saying it was intended to discuss affordability and that Democrats will hold the administration accountable.
While Jeffries has previously aligned with progressive initiatives such as Medicare for All, he has expressed reservations about the far-left wing of the Democratic Party, stating he will not "bend the knee to hard-left democratic socialism." He added that his perspective on systemic inequities is shaped by his experience as a Black man rather than solely by class analysis.
Jeffries, who served as an impeachment manager during the Senate trial of President Donald Trump, indicated that impeachment is not a top priority for Democrats in the upcoming term. He said the primary focus will be on lowering costs for Americans and delivering tangible relief to working people.