Hakeem Jeffries, a leftist congressman from New York, is a potential top contender to head the party for the next two years after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepped down following the midterm elections.
Jeffries, 52, would be the party’s first Black House leader, heralding a new generation of leadership. Pelosi is 82 and two other party leaders are in their 80s. On Nov. 30, House Democrats will choose a leader.
Jeffries, House Democratic Caucus chairman since 2019, would contrast Pelosi’s style. She’s a hard-charging speaker, whereas he’s more restrained.
“Jeffries’ to lose,” said an unidentified House Democratic aide watching leadership jockeying.
Pelosi and other senior Democrats are under pressure to make way for a younger generation.
Others may also want to be House minority leader.
Steny Hoyer, 83, will not pursue a leadership post in the next Congress and backs Jeffries.
James Clyburn, 82, the No. 3 House Democrat, might also be a contender. Clyburn was a key voice in the Congressional Black Caucus and energised President Biden’s 2020 primary campaign.
Clyburn informed reporters before Pelosi’s statement that he’ll stay in the Democratic leadership.
“I’ll keep leading. Clyburn has declared “no notion” all year “what congressional leadership role he’d seek.
Clyburn: “The caucus decides.”
Representative Katherine Clark, 59, of Massachusetts will likely seek for “whip” Clark is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus like Jeffries. Pete Aguilar might replace Jeffries as caucus chairman.
minorities
The new House Democratic leader will need to coordinate legislation, strategy, and message with other party leaders.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, 62, rose to fame owing to his participation in impeaching Donald Trump and investigating his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Schiff is exploring a Senate run, a source familiar with his thoughts said on condition of anonymity.
Minority leader is weaker than the speaker. In the minority, the Democratic leadership team will decide if and when to help Republicans pass important legislation like government spending measures, despite potential far-right Republican revolts.
Kevin McCarthy, positioning himself to become speaker, will preside over a very slim majority in the chamber, with no more than seven votes to play with, depending on the outcome of the few remaining House contests.
In Biden’s final two years, top Democrats will promote his programme. It would shield him in Republican-led House probes of his administration or family.
Pelosi succeeded in raising campaign cash for House Democratic candidates over her two-decade career.
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