Washington — Home Democrats elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York as their subsequent celebration chief in a unanimous vote on Wednesday, ushering in a generational shift as Democrats put together to relinquish management of the decrease chamber in January.
Lengthy thought of a rising star within the celebration, the 52-year-old Jeffries will make historical past as the primary Black celebration chief in both chamber of Congress. He takes the reins from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has served as Home Democratic chief since 2003. Pelosi, 82, introduced earlier this month that she wouldn't search one other management place however would stay within the Home.
Wednesday's election means Jeffries will grow to be minority chief when the brand new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. Republicans will maintain a slim majority within the Home for the primary time since 2019, whereas Democrats retained management of the Senate within the midterm elections.
Jeffries, whose district encompasses giant elements of his native Brooklyn, was first elected to Congress in 2012 and steadily ascended the celebration ranks, in the end changing into chairman of the Democratic caucus in 2019. He served within the New York State Meeting previous to his election, and was a company lawyer earlier than launching his political profession, with stints as in-house counsel at Viacom and CBS.
Serving alongside Jeffries can be Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, who was chosen as caucus chairman, and Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, who was anticipated to be elected Democratic whip. All three ran unopposed.
Like Pelosi, present Majority Chief Steny Hoyer of Maryland declined to hunt one other management submit, whereas Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the present whip, plans to hunt a brand new function as assistant Democratic chief in an election on Thursday.
Chatting with reporters on Tuesday, Jeffries mentioned the brand new management workforce acknowledged the "solemn accountability that we're all inheriting, and the very best factor that we will do on account of the seriousness and solemnity of the second, is lean in laborious and do the very best rattling job that we will for the individuals."
"We're a coalition of individuals with totally different life experiences, ideologies and backgrounds. However on the finish of the day, we're all the time dedicated to discovering the very best widespread denominator with the intention to get huge issues finished. For on a regular basis People. I am assured that we will proceed to do it," he mentioned.
Jeffries additionally provided some perception on his relationship with GOP Chief Kevin McCarthy, the Republican nominee for the speakership.
"I believe I have been fairly mild on Kevin McCarthy over time, to let you know the reality. I simply reply to issues that he has both mentioned or finished that I discovered to be outrageous, comparable to calling out members on our facet of the aisle as excessive when he is bought a rare group of members on the opposite facet of the aisle who fall into that class," Jeffries mentioned. "Transferring ahead, it is my hope that Home Democrats can discover widespread floor with Republicans to get issues finished that may make life higher for on a regular basis People at any time when potential. However we're additionally ready to oppose their extremism after we should."
Rebecca Kaplan contributed reporting.