Rep. Hakeem Jeffries chosen to succeed Pelosi as leader of House Democrats

Hakeem Jeffries.
(Image credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

House Democrats on Wednesday elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) to succeed longtime House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as leader of their caucus, cementing a huge "generational change" ahead of the upcoming congressional term, The Washington Post writes.

Jeffries will serve as minority leader, and is the first Black leader of a party in Congress, Axios reports; he's also the first new Democratic leader in 20 years. Pelosi announced her retirement from House leadership earlier this month after an intruder broke into her home and attacked her husband.

On Tuesday, Jeffries said he hopes to help Democrats "find common ground with Republicans to get things done that can make life better for everyday Americans," while still opposing GOP "extremism where we must."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.) and Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.) will work under Jeffries as Democratic whip and caucus chair, respectively, replacing Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.) and Whip Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.). Clyburn is now running for assistant leader, which is considered "the No. 4 role," Axios notes.

"This is a moment of transition," Jeffries said Tuesday night. "We stand on the shoulders of giants, but are also looking forward to being able to do what's necessary at this moment to advance the issues."

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Brigid Kennedy

Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.