Pelosi Succession: Who is Hakeem Jeffries?

For many years, Nancy Pelosi led the US Democrats in the House of Representatives – now her successor is ready: Hakeem Jeffries is to take over the post. What does the first black faction leader in Congress stand for politically?

The US Democrats in the House of Representatives dare to change generations. Hakeem Jeffries, the newcomer, is 30 years younger than the woman he inherits: Nancy Pelosi.

It’s not an easy legacy. Pelosi has long been a cult figure in the Democratic Party, as illustrated by the words of Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos: “We’ve been fortunate to have had someone of the caliber of Nancy Pelosi at our helm for so long,” enthuses bustos

A horn that successor Jeffries is also blowing: It was an honor to work closely with outgoing spokeswoman Pelosi – a spokeswoman for eternity, says Jeffries.

New Yorker, lawyer, congressman

That’s not quite true, because after all, a new era is beginning, the Jeffries era. Who is this tall, athletic man?

He was born in 1970 in New York, a stronghold of the Democratic Party. The doctor of law describes himself as progressive, belongs to the left wing of the party, is married to a social worker and has two children. Jeffries complains that the most basic American social contract, that anyone can achieve anything if they work hard and follow the rules, no longer applies to many.

He has represented his native city in the Washington House of Representatives since 2013. In the meantime, he toyed with the idea of ​​running as mayoral candidate for New York.

accusers against Trump

Jeffries became known to a nationwide public in 2020: He was one of the prosecutors in the first impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump – at that time because of the then president’s attempt to make military aid for Ukraine dependent on President Volodymyr Zelenskyj providing campaign ammunition against Trump’s potential challenger Joe Biden .

At least since this first attempt at impeachment, it has been clear: Jeffries can also attack. “We will take vigorous action against it if the Republicans take it too far,” promises the new opposition leader. This is the main difference to Pelosi: the Grande Dame of the Democrats most recently headed a majority faction, the new one leads a parliamentary minority.

A new one is also taking over from the Republicans

Jeffries’ opponent for the next two years will be Kevin McCarthy, future Republican leader and powerful House Speaker. “Does anyone really take him seriously?” Jeffries polemicizes against him. Knowing full well that the Republicans, with their new majority in the House of Representatives, will slow down the Biden government more in the future.

Because that was imminent, Biden had already brought the key points of his agenda through parliament in the first half: infrastructure investments, the climate protection and social package. Rising star Jeffries will now steward that legacy: May voters say thank you in the 2024 presidential election.