Hakeem Jeffries set to become first Black House speaker after Democratic midterm win

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is on the verge of becoming the first Black person to serve as speaker of the House. This milestone will place him in the second position of the presidential line of succession, directly behind the vice president.

The Democrat secured his position after helping his party achieve a decisive victory in the midterm elections. Jeffries has served in the House for nearly 14 years, representing parts of Brooklyn since 2013. His career has progressed from a rank-and-file member focused on criminal justice to a top party lieutenant under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.

He currently serves as House minority leader, a role he assumed in 2022. That position made him the first Black politician to lead either party in the House or Senate. As speaker, he will guide a diverse and often fractious Democratic caucus tasked with implementing the changes promised to voters.

Jeffries characterized the election result as a mandate for transformation. Speaking on Tuesday night, he stated that House Democrats must deliver dramatic change. He noted that many systems are broken and that the new Congress needs to prioritize the American people.

Before entering politics, Jeffries worked as a lawyer in private practice. He cited his time at a law school legal clinic as the catalyst for his interest in criminal justice reform. He said he wanted to address the broken criminal justice system if he moved into public service.

During his six-year tenure in the New York State Assembly, he worked to regulate warrantless stop-and-frisk searches by the New York City Police Department. In Washington, he led the effort to pass the bipartisan First Step Act during the first Trump administration. The legislation reduced sentences for certain drug crimes.

Passing the First Step Act required close collaboration with Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law. Jeffries described the partnership as productive, noting that it produced real results. He observed that getting things done in Washington often requires building a coalition of unusual suspects.

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

Jeffries has navigated tensions between the party's progressive flank and the legislative center. He was once a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and sponsored Medicare for All proposals. He told The Atlantic in 2021 that he would not bend the knee to hard-left democratic socialism. He argued that Black progressives address systemic racism first, rather than viewing class as the defining problem in America.

He also served as an impeachment manager during the Senate trial concerning President Trump's pressure campaign on Ukraine. That trial focused on Trump's withholding of military aid to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to announce investigations into Joe Biden. Jeffries has not committed to pursuing impeachment in Trump's second term. He told Fox News in April that it was not a top priority and told ABC in September that Democrats had not ruled anything in or out. The House will vote on the speaker when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3.