USAupdated 50m ago2 min read
Archive photo · 23 July 2013Democrats Project Control Of U.S. House, Putting Hakeem Jeffries On Path To Speakership
“whose upbringing in Brooklyn’s Cornerstone Baptist Church helped him easily slide”
“was raised by a Black nationalist family in Brooklyn”
Photo: United States Congress / US federal government, Public domain · Cropped for layout
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Democrats projected to win House control, enabling Jeffries to become speaker. Jeffries would be first Black House Speaker.
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Jeffries nears speakership
Democrats were projected to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, putting Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., in line to become the first Black speaker in the chamber’s history.
Jeffries, 56, represents New York’s 8th Congressional District, covering neighborhoods including Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York, Canarsie and Coney Island, and he faced Republican Lewis Mizrahi in Tuesday’s general election.
Jeffries said, “We made it, Brooklyn. We made it,” as he addressed supporters in Washington on Tuesday night.
Jeffries also told supporters in Washington, “House Democrats have taken back control of the United States Congress,” as Democrats projected to win control of both the House and the Senate.
The House vote remained pending, because Jeffries “must still win a formal House vote to secure the speakership.”
Oversight and accountability
Jeffries vowed to use the expected Democratic majority to pursue corruption accountability, telling supporters, “We're going to bring accountability to those who have visited unprecedented corruption on this country.”
Jeffries framed the effort around personal enrichment, saying, “Because if you have people in high office who are so focused on enriching themselves, their family members, their friends, or their donors, then they're not focused on making life better for the American people.”
The Associated Press said Jeffries faced a vote of his colleagues when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, and it described the speaker role as “the only leadership position in Congress mandated by the U.S. Constitution.”
The Associated Press also reported that Jeffries would take over from Speaker Mike Johnson, and it said the whole House votes on the speaker as one of the first orders of business when Congress convenes in January.
Jeffries told supporters that Democrats understand the election as a demand for change, saying, “We hear you,” and “We’re going to work hard to deliver on the dramatic change that you deserve.”
First 100 days agenda
Jeffries said Democrats would use their new House majority to lower the cost of living, expand access to health care and hold the Trump administration accountable, and he pledged to focus on lowering housing, grocery and gasoline costs.
The Associated Press said Jeffries promised a robust 100-day agenda to lower the costs of living and launch oversight and investigations to hold the Trump administration accountable.
Jeffries also said, “We understand that trust has been broken between the Congress and the American people, and we’re going to work hard to restore it,” as he described restoring trust as a priority.
amNewYork reported that Democrats had prepared plans for their first 100 days, including votes to restore expired Affordable Care Act tax credits, reverse Medicaid cuts, challenge Trump’s tariffs and seek an end to the U.S. war in Iran.
The New York Democrat also established five working groups focused on lowering the costs of health care, housing, groceries and other goods, gas and utilities, and caregiving, with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez co-chairing the health care group alongside Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell.