Rep. Hakeem Jeffries announces bid to replace Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader - NBC News

WASHINGTON — New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the fourth-ranking House Democrat, said Friday that helium volition tally to regenerate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arsenic the party's person aft Republicans took backmost control of the enclosure successful past week’s midterm elections.

His announcement successful a missive to colleagues came a time aft Pelosi said successful a almighty level speech that she is stepping down aft a two-decade reign arsenic the apical person of House Democrats.

If Jeffries is successful, it would correspond a historical passing of the torch: Pelosi made past arsenic the archetypal pistillate talker of the House, portion Jeffries, the existent Democratic Caucus chairman, would go the archetypal Black person of a legislature caucus and highest-ranking Black lawmaker connected Capitol Hill. If Democrats were to retake power of the House — a existent anticipation with Republicans having specified a constrictive majority — Jeffries would beryllium successful enactment to beryllium the archetypal Black talker successful the nation's history.

The ascension of the 52-year-old Jeffries to number person would besides correspond generational change. Pelosi and her apical 2 deputies — Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. — are each successful their 80s and are receiving from wrong the enactment for “new blood” successful leadership; Hoyer volition not question different enactment station portion Clyburn plans to enactment connected and enactment with the adjacent generation.

Reps. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., are seeking to circular retired the caller enactment team, announcing Friday that they volition tally for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots successful leadership. Clark, 59, announced a bid for Democratic Whip, portion Aguilar, 43, is moving for Democratic Caucus Chair.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., astatine the Capitol connected Nov. 17, 2022.Frank Thorp V / NBC News

Pelosi endorsed each 3 to win her enactment squad successful a connection Friday, saying they are "ready and consenting to presume this awesome responsibility." Clyburn has besides endorsed the three, portion Hoyer backed Jeffries for person connected Thursday.

“In the 118th Congress, House Democrats volition beryllium led by a trio that reflects our beauteous diverseness of our nation," Pelosi said. "Chair Jeffries, Assistant Speaker Clark and Vice Chair Aguilar cognize that, successful our Caucus, diverseness is our spot and unity is our power."

Clyburn, a towering fig successful the caucus and adjacent state of President Joe Biden, called his protege Jeffries "absolutely fantastic" and signaled enactment for a afloat slate of younger acceptable of leaders taking the reins of the Democratic enactment apparatus: Jeffries, Clark, and Aguilar.

Clyburn said successful a missive to colleagues Friday helium volition tally for Assistant Democratic Leader successful the adjacent Congress "to enactment alongside our caller procreation of Democratic Leaders which I anticipation to beryllium Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar.”

Added Hoyer: "Well, I deliberation it’s ever bully for a enactment to person caller humor and caller invigoration, caller enthusiasm, and caller ideas.”

It's wide that Jeffries is the hands-down favourite for the job. Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., had explored challenging Jeffries for the apical occupation but dropped his bid Wednesday and alternatively volition look astatine a imaginable tally for the Senate, according to a root acquainted with his planning. No different challengers person emerged.

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, said Thursday she was assured that the almighty bloc of much than 50 Black lawmakers would enactment up down Jeffries.

“I’m precise comfy saying I judge that each subordinate of the Congressional Black Caucus would ballot for Hakeem Jeffries,” Beatty told reporters Thursday.

NBC News projected Wednesday that Republicans volition power the House for the adjacent 2 years — but it volition beryllium a constrictive majority, apt akin to the 1 Democrats person had since 2021.

Before Pelosi made her announcement, Hoyer grinned erstwhile asked whether House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who is moving for speaker, volition beryllium capable to govern with a tiny majority.

“We’ll see! Mr. Ryan and Mr. Boehner recovered it difficult,” Hoyer said.

Speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner some had larger majorities than the caller 1 volition be.

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