Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Hakeem Jeffries is on track to become the first Black House speaker
Hakeem Jeffries is on track to become the first Black speaker of the US House when lawmakers choose a speaker in January.
The New York Democrat has led his party in the House since 2023, and supporters have worked for years to put him in line for the role.
His path to the speaker’s gavel is not guaranteed, and he will need to win over incoming Democrats who want a more left-wing approach.
Some activists criticize his positions on issues including Medicare for All and Israel, while others in the party have privately questioned whether he acts decisively enough.
Jeffries says voters want major change, and allies say he plans to confront the Trump administration and large corporations.
His priorities include raising the minimum wage, new Supreme Court ethics rules and tighter oversight of artificial intelligence.
He must balance bold action with avoiding divisive votes, as Democrats try to meet voters’ demands without risking seats in the next election.
Democrats’ midterm election win puts Hakeem Jeffries on track to become the first Black speaker of the US House of Representatives.
The House majority is expected to be sworn in during the first week of January, and the full House will then elect a speaker.
Jeffries would lead Democrats in opposing President Donald Trump while trying to bridge divisions between moderates and progressives.
He has pledged to focus on affordability and to investigate the Trump administration’s dealings with corporate executives.
His path still depends on securing support from incoming progressive lawmakers, some of whom disagree with his positions on issues including health care and Israel.
- Who
- Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic representative from a New York City congressional district, is in line to become House speaker.
- What
- Democrats’ midterm win puts him on track to become the first Black speaker of the US House.
- When
- The election was held on November 3, 2026. The House is expected to elect a speaker in January.
- Where
- The US House of Representatives in Washington.
- Why
- Democrats won the midterm elections, putting Jeffries in line to lead the House majority.
Incoming Democratic progressives
Democratic moderates
Policy priorities
Incoming Democratic progressives
Incoming progressives have called for voting rights reforms, public housing investment, blocking offensive weapons to Israel and universal health care.
Democratic moderates
Moderates fear proposals such as Medicare for All would be too costly and could oppose moving too far to the left.
Approach to divisive votes
Incoming Democratic progressives
Some progressives are pressing Jeffries to support policies on issues including health care and Israel.
Democratic moderates
Jeffries’s allies say he will avoid massively divisive votes and focus on affordability.
Representative-elect Darializa Avila Chevalier said in a Vanity Fair interview that she would not commit to voting for Jeffries.
Democrats held midterm elections, and Jeffries gave a victory speech after media outlets projected likely Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.
Newly elected House Democrats are expected to meet behind closed doors to choose their candidate for speaker.
The full House is expected to vote to select its speaker as the new Congress begins.
- House size
- 435 members
- Speaker succession
- Second in line for the presidency, after Vice-President J.D. Vance
- House speaker
- 57th speaker since 1789
- Jeffries
- 56 years old
- Medicaid spending cuts
- Enacted into law on July 4, 2025
7 sources
US midterms: Hakeem Jeffries poised to become Speaker of US House of Representatives
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What people are saying
Today begins the great American comeback
The American people have spoken and made clear that they’ve had enough of the extremism, enough of the corruption. They want a Congress that’s going to deliver for the American people
Lawyer up
The question is what he has to give them to get them on board