Edition · Wed 04 Nov 2026
Politics Desk
Hakeem Jeffries Stands at the Door of History as the First Black Speaker of the House
The Brooklyn Democrat who once battle-rapped as a teenager is on course to take the speaker's gavel in January, with a mandate for change and a restless caucus that he will have to keep in line.
By Rachel · Edited by Chanan Zevin - Chief Editor and Head of Desks
Published
A long climb to the gavel
When the new Congress convenes in January, Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become the first Black speaker of the House, the culmination of a career built around a single, patiently pursued goal. Over the years, supporters urged him to run for mayor of New York, to seek a top committee post and even to run for president in 2024. He turned them all down.
A long climb to the gavel
"He could have been chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. He could have been the Democratic whip early on. But he's very strategic," said Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who entered Congress with him in 2013.
A long climb to the gavel
Mr. Jeffries first drew national attention as a House manager in President Trump's first impeachment trial, when he quoted the Notorious B.I.G. on the Senate floor. As a teenager in 1980s Brooklyn, he battled under the name Kid Fresh.
Bold, but not reckless
The incoming speaker faces a delicate task. Voters have demanded dramatic change, but his allies say he is determined to avoid overreach that could cost Democrats their majority in two years. "He's gonna do bold and smart, not bold and stupid," one moderate Democrat said.
Bold, but not reckless
That means focusing on affordability and health care rather than culture-war fights, and steering clear, where possible, of divisive votes on issues such as Israel. Representative Jason Crow of Colorado said Democrats would "win this at the kitchen table" and "govern at the kitchen table."
Bold, but not reckless
Plans are already being discussed inside the caucus to impose term limits on committee chairs, a sharp break for a party long ruled by seniority. A proposed ban on stock trading by members of Congress has divided long-serving lawmakers.
Oversight and a president who vetoes
With subpoena power, House Democrats are expected to pursue an aggressive oversight agenda over the last two years of Mr. Trump's term. Cooperation with the White House is likely to be scarce. The president has recently called himself "Mr. Veto."
Oversight and a president who vetoes
Mr. Jeffries has not softened his tone toward Mr. Trump. He once called him "the dumbest person ever to sit at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." Still, he has met with figures on the other side, including the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, saying lawmakers have a "responsibility to solve problems."
Thirty seconds a week
Colleagues describe a leader who is combative but optimistic. Mr. Jeffries often tells his members that the average American spends about four minutes a week on politics, three and a half of them on Mr. Trump. "We are fighting for 30 seconds a week," he has said.
Thirty seconds a week
On Tuesday night, Democrats won far more than 30 seconds. The question now is what Mr. Jeffries does with the attention. The next Congress could also include the largest number of Black lawmakers in American history, with the nation's first Black speaker presiding over it.