Hakeem Jeffries moves toward becoming first Black House speaker
Why it matters: A Democratic House would let Jeffries set the chamber’s agenda and open investigations into the Trump administration.
Hakeem Jeffries appeared headed to become the first Black speaker of the U.S. House after Democrats’ midterm win put the party on track to control the chamber in January. Jeffries, a New York lawmaker who has led House Democrats since 2022, faces the immediate task of uniting moderates and progressives before a full House vote at the start of the new Congress. As speaker, he would control what legislation reaches the floor and stand second in the presidential line of succession after Vice President J.D. Vance. Jeffries has pledged to reverse 2025 Medicaid cuts and signaled House Democrats would investigate the Trump administration’s ties to corporate donors.
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