By Florence Mafomemeh
A generational shift in leadership makes history in Washington. House Democrats unanimously elected Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries as the new minority leader making him the first Black lawmaker to be elected to lead a party in Congress.
Jeffries’ election marks the party’s first change in top leadership in two decades as he takes over from current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has led the party for 20 years.
Out-going House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Her successor Hakeem Jeffries
The victory for the New York Democrat is more coronation than competition as the Crown Heights native and current chair of the House Democratic Caucus who was elected to Congress in 2013, has long been seen as the heir apparent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Jeffries stood up in defense of our democracy and led the effort to impeach Donald Trump, and has gone toe to toe with Republicans, sometimes with the powerful US Senate.”
House Democrats also united behind Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) to be chair of the House Democratic caucus and Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) to be minority whip.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, 82, also announced they would step aside from their leadership posts shortly after Pelosi’s declaration thus paving the way for 52-year-old Jeffries, along with Clark, 59, and Aguilar, 43, marking a generational shift to House Democrats’ top spots.
In her remarks before declaring her decision, the 82-year-old Pelosi said she wanted to pave a way for a “new generation” of oversight in the Democratic party.
“The hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect,” she said.
Pelosi issued a statement congratulating her successor, as well as Clark and Aguilar. “Congratulations to Leader-designate Hakeem Jeffries, Whip-designate Katherine Clark and Chairman-designate Pete Aguilar! Together, this new generation of leaders reflects the vibrancy and diversity of our great nation — and they will reinvigorate our Caucus with their new energy, ideas and perspective. Now, with the fullest confidence of our Members, our new Leaders are well-prepared to carry on Democrats’ fight for working families and defense of Democracy,” she said.
On the Senate floor ahead of the elections, Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer noted the “momentous” and historic nature of the newly elected leadership: the advancement of the first Black American to lead a chamber of Congress, the first Latino American to occupy a No. 3 slot.
House Democratic Leader-designate Jeffries represents New York’s 8th Congressional District in Brooklyn which includes parts of Queens.
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