New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries announced Friday his candidacy to replace Nancy Pelosi in the Democratic leadership of the U.S. House, after she announced she was stepping down following the confirmation of the Republican victory in the midterm elections.
The possible election of Jeffries, third in the Democratic echelon of power in the House, represents an important generational change within the party leadership, as both Pelosi and the other two leaders behind her, Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn, are octogenarians.
While waiting for Pelosi to make a statement on the matter, Clyburn himself has already done so, who believes that Jeffries’ step forward is «absolutely fantastic», while Hoyer considers that «it is always good for a party to have new blood, strength and ideas».
Clyburn has gone further and has also shown his support for the other two Democratic candidates who would complete the trio led by Jeffries, Katherine Clark to be in charge of party discipline, and Pete Aguilar to chair the Democratic caucus.
Just as Pelosi made history by being the first woman to preside over the U.S. House of Representatives, if Jeffries, who represents that more conservative line within the party, is elected and the Democrats regain control of the House, she would be the first black person to be its speaker.
