Hakeem Jeffries could become first Black speaker of US House of Representatives
Photo: Democratic Party leader Hakeem Jeffries (Getty Images)
Democrats have won a majority in the US House of Representatives in the midterm elections, and party leader Hakeem Jeffries could become the first Black speaker in the country's history, according to AP News.
The 56-year-old lawmaker from Brooklyn, Hakeem Jeffries, is expected to become Speaker of the House of Representatives when the newly elected Congress convenes on January 3.
The position of Speaker is second in line to the president, after the vice president, and is the only leadership position in Congress established by the Constitution. Jeffries will replace Republican Mike Johnson.
The new Democratic leadership team is also expected to include Katherine Clark as majority leader and Pete Aguilar as majority whip.
"This is not a partisan moment. This is a patriotic one. The American people are crying out for transformational change. We hear you. We’re going to work hard to deliver on the dramatic change that you deserve," Jeffries told supporters during his speech.
Democrats are preparing a 100-day agenda focused on lowering the cost of living, addressing healthcare issues, and strengthening oversight of Donald Trump's administration.
Jeffries has led House Democrats for the past four years, taking over after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided to step down from leadership following the 2022 elections.
Hakeem Jeffries was born in Brooklyn. He earned his law degree from New York University and a master's degree from Georgetown University.
Before being elected to Congress in 2013, he worked as a corporate lawyer and served as a member of the New York State Assembly. He is the highest-ranking elected Black official in US history.
The US midterm elections ended in a major defeat for the Republican Party.
For a full account of the campaign and an analysis of how the political situation in the country unfolded, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
For a closer look at how Americans voted and the unexpected results of the race, read the special report.
