Hakeem Jeffries to Become Second in Line for Presidency After 14-Year Climb
The New York Democrat is poised to lead the House after helping his party secure a midterm victory.
By Ivan Mori ·
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is on the verge of a historic shift in federal power. Following a decisive midterm victory for House Democrats, the Brooklyn-born legislator appears certain to become the first Black speaker of the House. If elected to that post, Jeffries would move to the second position in the presidential line of succession, directly behind the vice president.
This potential elevation marks the end of a 14-year trajectory in the chamber. Jeffries entered Congress in 2013 as a rank-and-file member focused on criminal justice. He subsequently served as a top lieutenant to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and was elected House minority leader in 2022. That role made him the first Black politician to lead either party in the House or Senate.
The path to the gavel required navigating a diverse and often fractious caucus. Jeffries stated on Tuesday night that the election represents a mandate for change. "This is a change election, and we understand as House Democrats that we need to deliver dramatic change," he said. "Things are broken. We need a Congress that puts the American people first."
His legislative identity was forged in New York state politics. Jeffries served six years in the State Assembly, where he worked to regulate warrantless stop-and-frisk searches by the New York City Police Department. In Washington, he led the effort to pass the bipartisan First Step Act during the first Trump administration. That law reduced sentences for certain drug crimes and required a close working relationship with Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law at the time.
Jeffries has faced internal scrutiny over his political positioning. He was once a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a sponsor of Medicare for All proposals. However, he has distinguished his views from the party's far-left flank. In a 2021 interview with The Atlantic, he noted that he would not "bend the knee to hard-left democratic socialism." He argued that his experience as a Black man shaped his view of systemic racism differently than the class-based focus of some progressives.
The speaker vote will take place on the floor when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. Jeffries has indicated that lowering costs for Americans will be the primary focus of the new term. He has not committed to pursuing impeachment of President Trump again, stating in September that Democrats have not ruled any option in or out.
