(CNN) — House Democrats elected their caucus chairman, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, to succeed Nancy Pelosi as party leader in the lower house, a historic move that will make him the first black person to lead one of the two major parties in either house of Congress.
House Democrats met behind closed doors Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill to make their decision.
Jeffries ran for leader without opposition. Joining him were Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark, current deputy spokesperson, as whip (head of the parliamentary group), and California Rep. Peter Aguilar, formerly vice-president of the caucus, and who was expected to win the position to lead the House Democratic caucus.
Republicans have a majority in the next Congress, so Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar will lead a Democratic minority, the first in two legislatures.
Hakeem Jeffries will make history by succeeding Nancy Pelosi.
At 52, Jeffries will represent a generational shift from the current triumvirate of House Democratic leaders, who are three decades older than him. The legislator became the president of the Democratic caucus in 2019, becoming the youngest member in the leadership.
His promotion comes after Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and House Majority Leader Jim Clyburn announced they were leaving their current posts. Clyburn is expected to become deputy leader in the new Congress.
Hakeem Jeffries delivers his first address as future House Democratic leader
Pelosi — who was named “speaker emeritus” in a unanimous vote by the House Democratic and Political Steering Committee Tuesday night — blessed the new trio of leaders expected to succeed them in a statement when she announced she was leaving her office and would once again be a rank and file member in the new Congress.
“A new day is dawning, and I am confident that these new leaders will capably lead our caucus and Congress,” Pelosi said.
For months, Democratic lawmakers had whispered that Pelosi’s potential removal from Congress could pave the way for Jeffries.
Jeffries said he hopes “to lead an effort that centers our communication strategy around the principle that values unite, issues divide.” He also praised the past leadership, but said “more must be done to fight inflation, defend our democracy, ensure reproductive freedom, welcome new Americans, promote equal protection under the law, and improve public safety in this whole country.”