Hakeem Jeffries represents New York’s eighth congressional district. Jefferies has served in Congress since 2013.
Jefferies has served on the House Judiciary Committee, Budget Committee and as the chairman of the Democratic Caucus.
After Democrats lost the House in the 2022 midterm elections, they became the minority party in Congress.
Nancy Pelosi stepped down as the Speaker of the House for the Democrats, leaving the space vacant. Jefferies was elected to lead House Democrats after Pelosi stepped down.
Jefferies is the first Black American to lead a congressional political party.
Jefferies has sponsored a plethora of legislation that has become law. For example, the Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022.
Jefferies has a master’s degree from Georgetown University and graduated magna cum laude from New York University’s School of Law.
Jefferies has experience in the New York State Assembly, where he “authored laws to protect the civil liberties of law-abiding New Yorkers during police encounters,” according to his website.
The Democrats’ new diverse leadership also includes members Pete Aguilar of California and Ted Lieu of California.