Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the first Black speaker of the House
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is positioned to become the first Black speaker of the House following a strong performance by Democrats in the midterm elections. His potential speakership follows his tenure as House minority leader and a focus on criminal justice reform.
Why it matters
Jeffries' potential elevation to speaker would be a historic first for the U.S. House of Representatives and signal a shift in party leadership.
Midterms coverage: Live results | What to know | Stories around the country Stay connected: NPR Politics Podcast | NPR Politics newsletter | NPR app
After helping to deliver a decisive victory for House Democrats in the midterm elections, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., appears all but certain to become the first Black lawmaker to be elected speaker of the House.
Jeffries was elected House minority leader in 2022 and is the first Black politician to lead either party in the House or Senate. As speaker, Jeffries would be second in the presidential line of succession, after the vice president.
His elevation to speaker would represent the pinnacle of a nearly 14-year House tenure, a span that has seen Jeffries rise from a rank-and-file member focused on criminal justice policy to a top party lieutenant under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and then minority leader.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in