Hakeem Jeffries elected to replace Pelosi to lead House Democratic Caucus [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• House Democrats elected a new leadership team on Wednesday after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer decided to step aside.
• Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, will be replaced by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black lawmaker to lead a political party’s caucus.
• During his speech, Jeffries said, “Our country is better, the world is better because of Speaker Nancy.”

House Democrats on Wednesday voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to lead them in the next Congress, replacing 82-year-old Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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effries won unanimously after Pelosi and the two other incumbent members of the Democratic leadership, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, decided to step down. Fifty-two-year-old Jeffries will be the first Black person to lead a political party’s caucus in both chambers.

“Leadership is incredibly important,” said Jeffries. “When we get an opportunity as diverse leaders to serve in positions of consequence, the most meaningful thing we can do in that space is an incredibly good job.”

Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark was elected to serve as Democratic Whip while California Rep. Pete Aguilar was elected to be the chairman of the House Democratic caucus. Both Clark and Aguilar served in leadership under Pelosi for the past couple of years.

“Effective leadership is not about individual ambition, but our collective good. It is about truly listening and understanding what each member needs to be successful,” said Clark. “I will use my voice at the leadership table to bring people and solutions together.”

Pelosi announced that she’ll step down as leader shortly after the midterm elections when Democrats lost control of the House. The decision created the first open race for Democratic leader since Pelosi was elevated to the role in 2003.

“For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect, and I’m grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility,” Pelosi said early November.

Pelosi, who will relinquish her leadership post, will still remain in the House as a rank-and-file member. The move prompted questions about whether Jeffries can adequately lead House Democrats with such a high-profile predecessor still around.

“It’s going to be a little awkward,” said one senior Democratic aide. “Pelosi has had such a tight grip on the conference for so long. Every time that Jeffries does something that people don’t agree with, they’ll look towards Pelosi.”

For Jeffries, Pelosi’s decision to remain in the House is not an issue.

“She’s not going to be the type of individual that’s looking over the shoulders of those leaders that she just helped to elevate,” said Jeffries.

Source: Yahoo News