Jeffries Formally Seeks US House Speaker Post
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has formally announced his bid to become Speaker of the US House of Representatives. He is widely expected to get the job after the Democrats' strong midterm win.
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the US House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, has formally announced that he intends to run for Speaker, the presiding officer of the House. Axios reported this, citing a letter he sent to colleagues. After the Democrats' convincing victory in the midterm elections, he is widely expected to win the post. If he does, he will become the first African American to serve as Speaker.
Jeffries was first elected to Congress in 2012. He has led the House Democratic caucus since 2022, when Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, stepped down as Speaker.
In his letter, he asks colleagues to back his candidacy and says the country must now deliver the sweeping changes that most Americans demand. He also said every member of the majority would play a significant role, and that his aim is to let House Democrats act decisively in three key areas: affordability, accountability and American values.
The leadership team
Some newly elected progressive Democrats, as well as Democrats from so-called red districts, have declined to commit in advance to supporting Jeffries. Even so, he is not expected to face serious opposition. His team is also expected to be elected unopposed:
- Katherine Clark (Democrat, Massachusetts), previously deputy minority leader, as majority leader;
- Pete Aguilar (Democrat, California), chair of the Democratic caucus, as deputy majority leader;
- Ted Lieu (Democrat, California), vice chair of the caucus, as caucus chair;
- Joe Neguse (Democrat, Colorado), deputy leader, as deputy speaker.
It had earlier been reported that Jeffries could become the first Black Speaker of the lower chamber of Congress.
