CNN
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House Democrats elected New York caucus speaker Hakeem Jeffries to replace Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic leader in the House next year.
House Democrats met Wednesday morning behind closed doors on Capitol Hill to make the decision.
Jefferies ran as leader with Massachusetts Rep. Catherine Clarke (currently vice-president) and as an independent candidate with California Rep. He was expected to obtain a position to lead the caucuses.
Jeffries, Clarke and Aguilar will all lead in the Democratic minority for the first time in two terms, as Republicans take the majority in the upcoming Congress.
Jeffries, 52, will represent a generational shift from the current triumvirate of Democratic House leaders who are 30 years older than him. He became the Democratic Party’s caucus chairman in his 2019, making him the youngest party leader ever.
His rise to leadership comes after Pelosi, House Majority Leader Stenny Hoyer and House Majority Leader Jim Cliburn announced they were stepping down from their current leadership positions. Cliburn is expected to be the deputy leader in the new Congress.
Pelosi, who was named “Chairman Emeritus” Tuesday night by a unanimous vote by the House Democratic Operations and Policy Committee, said in a statement that she would succeed them as she announced she was stepping down and returning to the ranks. congratulated three expected new leaders.
“A new day is dawning, and I am confident that these new leaders will lead our caucuses and Congress competently,” Pelosi said.
For months, Democratic lawmakers have whispered that Pelosi’s potential exit from Congress could pave the way for Jeffreys.
“We want to lead an effort centered around a communication strategy centered around the message principle that values unite and issues divide,” Jeffries said. He also praised past leaders, but “fights inflation, protects democracy, secures reproductive freedom, welcomes new Americans, promotes equal protection under the law, and promotes equal protection under the law.” “More must be done to improve public safety across the country.”
This article and headline were updated with additional developments on Wednesday.
