House Democrats are turning to a new generation of leaders to take the helm in the next Congress, and are poised to make history as they elect a new slate on Wednesday.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., 52, is running unopposed to serve as House Minority Leader starting in January. He is 30 years younger than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and will become the first Black person to lead a major political party in Congress. Pelosi announced earlier this month she would remain in Congress, but not run for the leadership post she has held atop the Democratic caucus for nearly two decades after Republicans gained a razor-thin majority in the 2022 midterms.
Talking to reporters the night before the caucus vote, Jeffries said he hasn’t had time to reflect on the historical marker. Focusing on “the outside narratives or the magnitude of the moment” would take away from his work planning how to shift the caucus from the majority to its new minority posture in January, he said.
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