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Hakeem Jeffries, Pressing to Lead Democrats, Marks a Generational Shift
Summary
Hakeem Jeffries is a Democratic congressman from New York who is running to succeed Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. If successful, he would be the first Black man to hold the top party leadership role in either chamber of Congress. Jeffries is known among his colleagues in Congress as a calm, self-disciplined operator who usually speaks with no notes. He is a defender of liberal priorities like abortion rights and Medicare for All, but also has an intensely pragmatic streak. Some progressives regard him with intense distrust and even hostility, arguing that he is too solicitous of corporate interests and too cautious on addressing climate change. If he becomes the leader, their skepticism may be one of Mr. Jeffries’s first and thorniest challenges.
Q&As
Who is Hakeem Jeffries?
Hakeem Jeffries is a Democratic politician from New York. He has served in the House of Representatives for a decade, and is currently running to succeed Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.
What would a Hakeem Jeffries speakership mean for the Democratic party?
If Hakeem Jeffries is elected Speaker of the House, it would mean a generational and stylistic change for the Democratic party. Jeffries is younger than Pelosi and comes from a different background. He is also known for being pragmatic and for having a keen sense of where political compromise is available.
How did Hakeem Jeffries come to power?
Hakeem Jeffries came to power in the House of Representatives two decades ago as a political insurgent. He was elected to the State Assembly in 2000, and then to the House of Representatives in 2012.
What are some of Hakeem Jeffries's key legislative priorities?
Hakeem Jeffries's key legislative priorities include criminal justice reform, police reform, and sentencing reform. He has also been a defender of liberal priorities like abortion rights and Medicare for All.
How does Hakeem Jeffries's background inform his politics?
Hakeem Jeffries's background informs his politics in several ways. He is the son of a working-class social worker and a substance abuse counselor, and he grew up in Brooklyn during the 1980s and 1990s. This experience has shaped his commitment to fighting racial injustice and his pragmatic approach to politics.
AI Comments
👍 Hakeem Jeffries is a powerful voice for the Democratic Party, and a strong leader who understands the needs of his constituents. He is a fighter for justice and equality, and has a proven track record of working across the aisle to get things done.
👎 Hakeem Jeffries is a self-serving politician who is more interested in furthering his own career than in actually representing the people who elected him. He is out of touch with the needs of his district, and has failed to deliver on his promises.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about Hakeem Jeffries, a congressman from New York who is running to be the next House Democratic leader.
Friend: Oh, okay. I'm not really sure what the implications of that are.
Me: Well, if he's successful, he would be the first Black man to hold that position.
Friend: That's true. I'm not sure what else the article says.
Me: It talks about how he's very different from Nancy Pelosi, the current leader, in terms of style and approach. For one thing, he's much younger.
Friend: Yeah, that makes sense. I'm not sure what else to say about it.
Action items
- Join or start a local Indivisible chapter
- Call your representatives and urge them to support progressive policies
- Donate to progressive candidates running for office
Technical terms
- Congressman
- a member of the United States House of Representatives
- G.O.P.
- Grand Old Party, another name for the Republican Party
- House
- the United States House of Representatives
- Senate
- the United States Senate
- President
- the head of state of the United States of America
- Speaker
- the leader of the House of Representatives
- Congressional
- relating to or having the function of a congress
- Democrats
- a political party in the United States
- Republicans
- a political party in the United States
- Legislature
- a law-making body
- Litigator
- a lawyer who specializes in lawsuits
- Albany
- the capital of New York State
- Washington
- the capital of the United States of America
- Biden
- the current President of the United States
- Trump
- the former President of the United States
- McCarthy
- the current House Minority Leader
- McConnell
- the current Senate Majority Leader
- Pelosi
- the current Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Ocasio-Cortez
- a member of the House of Representatives
- Indivisible
- a progressive political advocacy group in the United States
- Brooklyn
- a borough of New York City
- Bronx
- a borough of New York City
- Chisholm
- the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress
- Sharpton
- an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister
- Kushner
- the former Senior Advisor to the President