Posted on 11/30/22
| News Source: The Hill
House Democrats on Wednesday elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) to head the party in the next Congress, marking a generational shift after 20 years under the reign of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) while making Jeffries the first Black figure to lead either party in Congress in the nation’s history.
The shift was no surprise. After Pelosi and her top deputies announced earlier in the month that they would step out of the top three leadership spots next year, Jeffries was one of three next-generation leaders who quickly swept in to solidify their place as uncontested contenders atop the party brass.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) addresses reporters during a press conference on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 to discuss the results of the House Democratic leadership election for the top three positions.
The other two — Reps. Katherine Clark (Mass.) and Pete Aguilar (Calif.) — were also voted into those new leadership positions on Wednesday. Clark will replace Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.) as the second-ranking Democrat next year, while Aguilar will fill the vacancy left by Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) at the No. 3 spot.
None of the new leaders faced an opponent, creating the sense that Wednesday’s proceedings were more coronation than election.
That did nothing to temper the celebratory tone from Democrats.