Wikipedia

Hakeem Jeffries

Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (/ˌhɑːˈkiːm/ hah-KEEM; born August 4, 1970[2]) is an American politician and attorney who has served as House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. He has been the U.S. representative for New York's 8th congressional district since 2013 and was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2012.

Hakeem Jeffries
Official portrait, 2021
House Minority Leader
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
WhipKatherine Clark
Preceded byKevin McCarthy
Leader of the House Democratic Caucus
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
DeputyKatherine Clark
Preceded byNancy Pelosi
Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
In office
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
LeaderNancy Pelosi
Preceded byJoe Crowley
Succeeded byPete Aguilar
Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019
Serving with Cheri Bustos and David Cicilline
LeaderNancy Pelosi
Preceded bySteve Israel (Chair)
Succeeded byMatt Cartwright
Debbie Dingell
Ted Lieu
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byEdolphus Towns (Redistricting)
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 57th district
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2012
Preceded byRoger Green
Succeeded byWalter Mosley
Personal details
Born
Hakeem Sekou Jeffries

(1970-08-04) August 4, 1970 (age 54)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Kennisandra Arciniegas
​
​
(m. 1997)​
[1]
Children2
RelativesHasan Kwame Jeffries (brother)
Leonard Jeffries (uncle)
Education
WebsiteHouse website
Party website
Campaign website
Hakeem Jeffries's voice
Hakeem Jeffries voices his support for the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act
Recorded March 3, 2020

Jeffries was born and raised in Crown Heights, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. He attended law school at New York University, graduating with honors and becoming a successful corporate lawyer before running for elected office. Both his state assembly district and congressional district are anchored in Brooklyn.

In Congress, Jeffries chaired the House Democratic Caucus from 2019 to 2023. The members of the caucus unanimously elected him to succeed Nancy Pelosi as leader in November 2022. This made him the first African American to lead a party in either chamber of the United States Congress.

Early life and career

Jeffries was born in New York City, at Brooklyn Hospital Center to Laneda Jeffries, a social worker, and Marland Jeffries, a state substance-abuse counselor.[3][4] He has one brother, Hasan. He grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and is a lifelong member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church.[5][6]

Jeffries graduated from Midwood High School, a public school, in 1988.[7] He then studied political science at Binghamton University, graduating in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors. During his time at Binghamton he became a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.[8]

Jeffries continued his education at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, earning a Master of Public Policy degree in 1994. He then attended New York University School of Law, where he was a member of the New York University Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude in 1997 with a Juris Doctor degree and delivered the student address at Convocation.[9][10]

Upon graduating from law school, Jeffries became a law clerk for Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.[11]

From 1998 to 2004, Jeffries was in private practice at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. In 2004, he became a corporate litigator for television companies Viacom and CBS, where among other matters he worked on the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy.[12][13] During Jeffries's time at Paul, Weiss, he also served as director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors (construction contractors) and as the president of Black Attorneys for Progress.[14][15]

New York State Assembly

Jeffries was elected and reelected, serving in the New York State Assembly for a Brooklyn district from 2007 to 2012.[16] During this time, he introduced over 70 bills.[17]

In 2007, while still in his first term in the State Assembly, Jeffries endorsed and supported Barack Obama, and was among Obama's earliest supporters in Hillary Clinton's home state. In one interview, he said, "When I first ran for office, some people suggested that someone with the name 'Hakeem Jeffries' could never get elected, and when I saw someone with the name 'Barack Obama' get elected to the U.S. Senate, it certainly inspired me."[18]

While in the Assembly, Jeffries distinguished himself as a leader on seeking bipartisan criminal justice reform.[19][20] In 2010, Governor David Paterson signed a Stop-and-Frisk database bill sponsored by Jeffries and then-Senator Eric Adams that banned police from compiling names and addresses of those stopped but not arrested during street searches.[21]

Jeffries wrote and sponsored that law.[22][23] He also sponsored and passed House Bill A.9834-A (now law), the inmate-base gerrymandering law that counts prison populations of upstate districts as part of the public population, becoming the second state to end this practice.[24]

Committee assignments

  • State House Committee on Banks
  • State House Committee on Codes
  • State House Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions
  • State House Committee on Correction
  • State House Committee on Housing
  • State House Committee on Judiciary
    • State House Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities
    • State House Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama
    • State House Subcommittee on Transitional Services
    • State House Subcommittee on Trust and Estates[25]

U.S. House of Representatives

Early years in Congress (2013–2018)

On April 11, 2013, Jeffries introduced the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act (H.R. 1501; 113th Congress). The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn as a unit of the National Park System (NPS).[26] Jeffries said, "as one of America's largest revolutionary war burial sites and in tribute to the patriots that lost their lives fighting for our nation's independence, this monument deserves to be considered as a unit of the National Park Service."[27] On April 28, 2014, the Prison Ship Martyrs's Monument Preservation Act was passed by the House.[28]

On July 15, 2014, Jeffries, who in private practice addressed intellectual property issues, introduced the To establish the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (H.R. 5108; 113th Congress), which would establish the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to be available to accredited law schools for the ten-year period after enactment of the Act.[29]

In 2015, Jeffries led the effort to pass The Slain Officer Family Support Act,[30] which extended the tax deadline for people making donations to organizations supporting the families of deceased NYPD Detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. The families of the officers, who had been killed in their patrol car on December 20, 2014, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Jeffries's district, had been the recipients of charitable fundraising.[31] Before the law's enactment, people would have had to make those contributions by December 31, 2014, to qualify for a tax deduction in connection with taxes filed in 2015. With the change, contributions made until April 15, 2015, were deductible. President Obama signed the bill into law on April 1, 2015.[32]

In 2015, prominent African-American pastors called for Jeffries to step into the 2017 Democratic primary for mayor against de Blasio. Jeffries said he had "no interest" and wished to remain a member of Congress.[33]

On May 22, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan First Step Act by a 358–36 vote with Jeffries as a key sponsor.[34][35] President Trump signed the bill into law on December 21, 2018. It eased mandatory minimum federal sentences, expanded early releases, and ended some draconian practices, such as the shackling of women inmates giving birth.[36][37]

Jeffries also played a key role in the House passage of the bipartisan Music Modernization Act, which became law in 2018.[38]

Among the practices Jeffries continued from his time in the Assembly in Congress is Summer at the Subway, rebranded as "Congress on Your Corner", offering outdoor evening office hours from June through August near subway stations that allow him to connect and hear constituents' concerns firsthand.[39]

Committee assignments

As a freshman, Jeffries served on the influential Budget Committee.[40] Later, he served on the Judiciary Committee. During the 114th Congress, Jeffries also served on the House Education and Workforce Committee. He has been a long-standing member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[41]

Leadership (2018–2022)

Democratic Caucus Chair

 
Jeffries with then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Joe Biden in March 2022

On November 28, 2018, Jeffries defeated California Congresswoman Barbara Lee to become chair of the House Democratic Caucus.[42] His term began when the new Congress was sworn in on January 3, 2019.[43] In this role, he was the fifth-ranking member of the Democratic leadership.[42]

First impeachment of President Donald Trump

On January 15, 2020, Jeffries was selected as one of seven House managers presenting the impeachment case against Trump during his trial before the United States Senate.[44] On January 22, 2020, a protester in the Senate gallery interrupted Jeffries by yelling comments at the senators seated a floor below. Jeffries quickly responded with a scripture verse, Psalm 37:28, "For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones", before continuing with his testimony.[45]

During the impeachment hearings, in response to Trump's counsel's rhetorical question “Why are we here?” to the Senate, Jeffries delivered a soliloquy that concluded by quoting Biggie Smalls: "and if you don't know, now you know".[46][47] Billboard magazine called it a "noteworthy mic-drop moment".[48]

House Democratic Leader (2022–)

With outgoing Speaker Pelosi's endorsement, Jeffries was elected unopposed as House Democratic Leader for the 118th Congress in November 2022, becoming the first African American to lead a party caucus in either chamber of Congress.[49][50][51]

118th Congress

Start of 118th Congress

At the start of the 118th Congress on January 3, 2023, the House of Representatives began the nominating contest for Speaker of the House. The Democratic caucus unanimously nominated Jeffries for speaker. He received 212 votes, all from Democrats, on nearly every ballot.[52] (David Trone missed the 12th round of voting for a surgery but returned for the 13th round.)[53][54] Meanwhile, Kevin McCarthy, the Republican front-runner, failed to secure a majority of votes cast. On January 6, McCarthy finally received a majority and was elected on the 15th ballot after making concessions to the far right.[55][56] In total, Jeffries received 3,179 votes for speaker.[57][58]

When McCarthy was elected speaker, Jeffries handed him the gavel after a 15-minute speech.[59] The speech, an alphabetical recitation of words describing what the government should and should not be, was dubbed the "ABCs of Democracy".[60] The video of Jeffries's alphabet speech has been viewed over 2.4 million times on social media.[61] On July 31, 2024, Jeffries announced he had penned an illustrated book, The ABCs of Democracy, to be published on November 12, 2024.[62]

House Democrats unanimously nominated Jeffries again in the October 2023 election after the successful motion to vacate McCarthy's speakership.[63]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

The first major test of the 118th Congress was the looming expiration of the nation’s debt ceiling. Economists warned that a breach and subsequent default would be catastrophic.[64][65] On May 29, 2023, Representative Patrick McHenry introduced the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Democrats initially resisted the measure.[66][67] When the Fiscal Responsibility Act was brought for a vote on May 31, Jeffries held up a green card to alert Democrats that they could vote in favor of it; over 50 did.[68][69] The Fiscal Responsibility Act was signed into law on June 3 and is estimated to have reduced the deficit by $1.5 trillion over 10 years.[70]

Removal of Speaker McCarthy

On October 3, 2023, Representative Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the speakership criticizing McCarthy for working with Democrats to pass a spending bill which did not include fiscally conservative reforms.[71][72] Preceding the vote, Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues that House Democratic leaders would vote “yes” on the motion to vacate the Chair. After listing off reasons not to keep McCarthy in power, Jeffries said Democrats “remain willing to find common ground on an enlightened path forward.”[73]

Immediately after Gaetz filed his motion to vacate, an attempt to remove the motion through a motion to table was filed by Representative Tom Cole, a McCarthy ally, but it was voted down by House Democrats and eleven Republicans.[74][75]

Following the removal of McCarthy, Jeffries published a column in the Washington Post calling for a “bipartisan governing coalition” in which he pitched a path for consensus legislation that could not be blocked by a “small handful of extreme members” when large swaths of the House supported a bill.[76][77] The column ultimately signaled a governing coalition Jeffries led from the with reports beginning to describe him as de-facto or shadow Speaker of the House.[78]

Governing by coalition
Main article: 2023–24 U.S. House legislative coalition

In December 2023, Jeffries led the House Democratic Caucus in providing the majority of the votes, 163-147, to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, allowing it to pass under suspension of the rules. The bill included a 5.2% pay increase.[79][80] On January 7, 2024, Jeffries and congressional leaders agreed to a $1.59 trillion topline spending deal. The topline spending levels agreed to for 2024 were not substantially different from the deal McCarthy and President Biden had negotiated.[81]

On March 6, the House passed a $459 billion "minibus" spending package containing six of the 12 appropriations bills. The bill funded the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, along with the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other military construction.[82] Jeffries led negotiations and applauded Democrats for ensuring the WIC program remained untouched, as well as providing rental assistance, a pay raise for firefighters and investments in new air traffic controllers.[83] After the vote, he said, "Once again, Democrats protected the American people and delivered the overwhelming majority of votes necessary to get things done."[84]

On March 22, the House passed a second $741 billion minibus to fund the remaining departments with Democratic support; a majority of Republicans voted against the package. Jeffries touted the work of the bipartisan coalition, saying: "We've said from the very beginning of this Congress, as Democrats, that we will find bipartisan common ground with our Republican colleagues on any issue, whenever and wherever possible, as long as it will make life better for the American people. That's exactly what House Democrats continue to do".[85][86] As part of negotiations to avert a government shutdown, Jeffries helped secure at least one project as an earmark for every Democratic member.[87] Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro said, "He negotiated. He got what we needed to have".[87]

On April 12, the House passed a modified surveillance bill that reauthorized the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.[88] The final vote was 273-147, with Democrats delivering votes to protect national security under Section 702. Biden signed the legislation hours before the program expired.[88] On April 20, over two months after the Senate had passed a funding bill for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine,[89] Jeffries negotiated a legislative path for the bill and delivered a majority of Democratic votes to pass a package providing aid to the three countries in separate bills, each of which passed Congress with bipartisan support and large majorities and was signed into law by Biden.[90] Three Freedom Caucus members voted against the bill in committee, but all Democrats voted for it.[91] The legislative package also included a House-passed bill to force the app TikTok to divest from its Chinese Communist Party-owned parent company, ByteDance, as well as the REPO for Ukrainians Act, which allows the U.S. government to fund the Ukrainian war effort with assets seized from Russian oligarchs. During debate on the bill, Jeffries emphasized the role of the bipartisan legislative coalition, saying, "We have a responsibility, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans, to defend democracy wherever it is at risk".[92] In an interview with 60 Minutes after the vote, he said House Democrats "effectively have been governing as if we were in the majority."[93]

On May 15, the House passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which included programs to improve safety and protect consumers, with more Democrats (195) than Republicans (192) voting for it.[94][95] After the votes to avert a federal government shutdown and send foreign assistance abroad, the Associated Press said that Jeffries, as the minority leader, "might very well be the most powerful person in Congress right now".[96]

Killing second motion to vacate attempt

As far-right Republicans issued warnings about a Motion to Vacate the Chair after a series of bills passed with the support of a majority of Democrats, Jeffries hinted at providing a lifeline to Speaker Mike Johnson in an interview with the New York Times.[97] On May 8, 2024, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had strongly opposed Johnson's resolve to provide Ukraine with further aid, introduced the motion to vacate his speakership on the floor, forcing a vote on it. Citing Johnson's decision to hold a vote on the legislative package to aid allies abroad, Jeffries and Democratic leaders said Democrats would vote to table Greene's motion.[98][99] The House voted to table the motion, 359-43, allowing Johnson to remain speaker.[100] 196 Republicans and 163 Democrats voted to table the motion; 11 Republicans and 32 Democrats voted against tabling it. The Democrats who supported Johnson said they did so because of the vital role he had played in passing funding for the federal government and supporting Ukraine.[101] Greene did not rule out forcing another vote to oust Johnson, but the Wall Street Journal wrote that Jeffries "flexes power as Mike Johnson flounders".[101][102]

Role as Democratic fundraiser and leader

Since assuming the role of leader, Jeffries has become a prominent fundraiser and operative for the party. In 2023, he raised $113 million for Democratic candidates and campaign committees, including $99 million for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).[103] The DCCC under Jeffries's control consistently set fundraising records in the 2024 election, raising $280.9 million for the cycle as of October 2024.[104][105] The SuperPAC affiliated with Jeffries, House Majority PAC, also broke fundraising records.[106]

Jeffries's first major political test as leader came in February 2024, after George Santos was expelled from Congress. For the special election to fill the vacancy, Jeffries tapped former representative Tom Suozzi.[107] Jeffries deployed his political team and key allies across the district and helped raise $1 million for the special election, holding fundraisers for Suozzi in New York, Washington and elsewhere.[107]

Jeffries had a prime-time speaking slot at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.[108] His speech, which received a standing ovation, was inspired by Psalm 30:5.[109] He endorsed Kamala Harris for president and likened Donald Trump to "an old boyfriend".[110] According to Essence, Jeffries delivered the speech with the "cadence of a seasoned preacher".[110]

Caucus memberships

Committee assignments

118th Congress

No committee assignments as party leader; ex-officio member of United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.[114]

117th Congress

116th Congress

115th Congress

  • Committee on the Judiciary[114]
    • Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet[114]
    • Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations[114]
  • Committee on the Budget[114]

114th Congress

113th Congress

  • Committee on the Judiciary[114]
    • Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet[114]
    • Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law[114]
  • Committee on the Budget[114]

Political positions

 
Jeffries with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine in September 2023

He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and, before becoming caucus leader, was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[115] Jeffries is noted for his ability to work with Democrats across the caucus and Republicans on shared goals. Considered a centrist, he has said he is willing to work with Republicans "whenever possible, but we will also push back against extremism whenever necessary." He also maintains good working relationships with more progressive Democrats.[116] In the 117th Congress, he voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[117]

In an interview with NY1, Republican former U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte said of Jeffries: "One of the best skills a legislator can have is to be willing to communicate with anybody in a constructive way about how to get things done. And that's exactly the approach that he's taken", calling Jeffries "open to compromise".[34]

Since taking federal office, Jeffries has been called "a rising star".[118] He has been appointed to the House Judiciary Committee Task Force on Over Criminalization,[119] and was also appointed the whip of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).[120][121] He plays in the infield on the Congressional Baseball Team.[122]

Congressional Black Caucus

Before becoming House Democratic Leader, Jeffries served as the Congressional Black Caucus whip, having been elected to the position in November 2014. In that role, he was actively involved in maintaining the CBC's historic role as "the conscience of the Congress",[123] addressing special orders on the House floor, including regarding voting rights (after the Supreme Court decision on the 1965 Voting Rights Act), and in December 2014 leading CBC members in a "hands up, don't shoot" protest of killings of African-Americans by police.[124][125]

After the shootings in Charleston in June 2015 by a white supremacist inspired by the Confederate flag, Jeffries led the effort to have the flag removed for sale or display on National Park Service land, an amendment the Republican House leadership eventually killed after its initial support and inclusion on voice vote. During debate on the House floor, Jeffries stood next to the Confederate battle flag, said he "got chills", and lamented that the "Ghosts of the Confederacy have invaded the GOP".[126]

Criminal justice reform

Jeffries called for a Department of Justice investigation into the circumstances of Eric Garner's death.[127] On a visit to the Staten Island site where Garner was killed, recorded by a CNN news crew in December 2014, Jeffries encountered Gwen Carr, Garner's mother.[128] In April 2015, he stood with Carr to announce the introduction of the Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2015, which would make chokeholds illegal under federal law.[129][130]

Gun laws

 
Jeffries speaking in 2023

Jeffries supports increased background checks for potential gun owners and a ban on assault weapons.[131] After a mass shooting in Nashville, Tennessee left six dead, he called on Congress to bring the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and assault weapons ban to the House floor. "Our schools have become killing fields and our children slaughtered by weapons of war. It is time for Congress to put kids over guns", Jeffries wrote to Speaker McCarthy.[132][133]

Abortion rights

Jeffries criticized the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, calling it "an assault on freedom, the Constitution and the values shared by a majority of Americans".[134] In the 118th Congress, he joined House Democratic lawmakers to reintroduce the Women's Health Protection Act, which would legally protect providing and accessing abortion care nationwide for patients and abortion providers.[135][136]

LGBTQ rights

Jeffries supports banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 2019, he voted in favor of the Equality Act and urged Congress members to do the same.[137][138]

Environment

In June 2024, after New York Governor Kathy Hochul indefinitely halted the implementation of congestion pricing in New York City, Politico reported that Hochul had acted in response to concerns raised by Jeffries. In August 2024, Jeffries reiterated that the ongoing pause was "a reasonable thing to do at this moment."[139][140][141]

Cannabis

Jeffries reintroduced bipartisan legislation, the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act, to create a transparent process for the federal government to establish effective regulations to be enacted upon the termination of the prohibition of cannabis.[142] He also co-sponsored the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would end the federal prohibition and criminalization of cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and facilitate the expungement of low-level federal cannabis convictions while incentivizing state and local governments to do the same.[143]

In the past, Jeffries called on the New York City Police Commissioner to reform its cannabis arrest policy after reports showed that low-level cannabis arrests, which increased dramatically under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration's application of stop-and-frisk, were still rising in New York City under Bloomberg's successor, Bill de Blasio.[144][145]

Trump impeachment

Jeffries voted to impeach President Donald Trump during both his first and second impeachments in the House.[146] He repeatedly called Trump's presidency "illegitimate" due to the Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election.[147][148]

Foreign affairs

Russia's invasion of Ukraine

 
Jeffries with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in July 2023

A member of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Jeffries has spoken out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.[149][150] He defended the Biden administration's assistance to Ukraine throughout the crisis and voted to send relief.[151] In April 2024, he voted for military aid package supplementals for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.[152][153][154]

Syria

In 2023, Jeffries voted against H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[155][156]

Israel

 
Jeffries at a pro-Israel conference in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 2023

Jeffries visited Israel for his first trip abroad as House Democratic Leader.[157][158] In Israel, he led a delegation of House Democrats (Gregory Meeks, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Yvette Clarke, Stacey Plaskett, Nanette Barragan, Josh Gottheimer, Steven Horsford, Lizzie Fletcher, Joe Neguse, Dean Phillips, and Sara Jacobs) and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[159][158]

Jeffries firmly supports Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. He has been called "one of the most pro-Israel Democrats in the House".[160] Jeffries also believes Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorism.[161][162][163]

Pro-Israel groups cheered Jeffries's ascent to House Democratic Leader due to his staunch support for Israel.[164] He has traveled to Israel five times since being elected to Congress.[165] In 2020, Jeffries told an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference that "back home in New York City we consider Jerusalem to be the sixth borough".[164]

Upon the onset of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Jefferies reiterated his support for Israel, saying, "Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad."[166] On November 9, 2023, he rejected calls for a ceasefire.[167] Jeffries spoke at the March for Israel on November 14, 2023, condemning antisemitism and calling for the safe return of all hostages taken captive by Hamas, and a "just and lasting peace".[168][169]

Elections

New York State Assembly

In 2000, while a lawyer at Paul Weiss, Jeffries challenged incumbent Assemblyman Roger Green in the Democratic primary. He criticized Green for inattentiveness to his constituents' needs and preoccupation with pursuing higher office after the incumbent had run for New York City Public Advocate in 1997 and had spoken of his plans to run for Congress upon the retirement of Edolphus Towns.[170][171] Jeffries lost the primary, 59% to 41%,[172][173] but remained on the Independence Party line in the general election, receiving 7% of the vote to Green's 90%.[174]

During post-census redistricting, Jeffries's home was drawn one block outside of Green's Assembly district as Prospect Heights was removed from the district. Jeffries was still legally permitted to run in the district for the 2002 cycle, as state law requires only that a candidate live in the same county as a district they seek in the first election after a redistricting, but this complicated his path and left Jeffries unable to challenge Green in the 2004 Democratic primary.[175] Green claimed he did not know where Jeffries lived.[173][176][177][178] Jeffries lost the 2002 primary, 52% to 38%.[179][180] Interviewed later about the redistricting, Jeffries said, "Brooklyn politics can be pretty rough, but that move was gangsta."[181]

The 2002 redistricting left Jeffries unable to challenge Green in the 2004 Democratic primary, which took place after Sheldon Silver and Democratic leadership forced Green to resign after he pleaded guilty to billing the state for false travel expenses. Green was renominated unopposed.[175][182]

In 2006, Green retired from the Assembly to run for the U.S. House from New York's 10th congressional district against incumbent U.S. Representative Ed Towns. Jeffries ran for the 57th district again and won the Democratic primary, defeating Bill Batson and Freddie Hamilton with 64% of the vote.[183][184][185] In the general election, he handily defeated Republican nominee Henry Weinstein.[186]

Jeffries was reelected in 2008, defeating Republican nominee Charles Brickhouse with 98% of the vote.[187] In 2010 he was reelected to a third term, easily defeating Republican nominee Frank Voyticky.[188]

U.S. House

2012 election

Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 8
 
Jeffries during the 112th Congress

In January 2012, Jeffries announced that he would give up his Assembly seat to run for the U.S. House from New York's 8th congressional district.

Jeffries expected to give Towns a strong challenge in the Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic, black-majority district. But with Jeffries assembling "a broad coalition of support", Towns announced his retirement on April 16, leaving Jeffries to face city councilman Charles Barron in the Democratic primary.[189][190][191][192][193]

Jeffries was supported by a broad coalition of local leaders from across the district. On June 11, 2012, former Mayor Ed Koch, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Councilman David Greenfield, Assemblyman Dov Hikind and other elected officials and community leaders held a joint event to support Jeffries's campaign.[194][195]

While President Barack Obama did not openly support candidates in Democratic primaries, he and President Bill Clinton together took a photograph with Jeffries weeks before his 2012 Congressional primary against Charles Barron, which was effectively used in campaign literature.[196]

Jeffries defeated Barron in the June 26 primary election, 72% to 28%.[197][198] A New York Daily News editorial noted that Barron had been "repudiated" in all parts of the district, including among neighbors on Barron's own block in East New York, which he lost.[199]

New York's 8th congressional district, 2012 Democratic primary[200]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries 28,271 71.8
Democratic Charles Barron 11,130 28.2
Total votes 39,401 100.0

In the general election, Jeffries defeated Republican nominee Alan Bellone and Green Party nominee Colin Beavan with 71% of the vote.[197][201][202][200]

On January 3, 2013, he was sworn in to the 113th Congress. He has since been reelected six successive times.[203]

New York's 8th congressional district, 2012[200]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries 178,688 87.5
Working Families Hakeem Jeffries 5,351 2.6
Total Hakeem Jeffries 184,039 90.1
Republican Alan Bellone 15,841 7.8
Conservative Alan Bellone 1,809 0.9
Total Alan Bellone 17,650 8.7
Green Colin Beavan 2,441 1.2
Total votes 204,130 100.0
Democratic hold

2014 election

Main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 8

Jeffries was reelected to the House in 2014 without opposition.[204]

New York's 8th congressional district, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries 70,469 84.0
Working Families Hakeem Jeffries 6,786 8.1
Total Hakeem Jeffries (incumbent) 77,255 92.1
Conservative Alan Bellone 6,673 7.9
Total votes 83,928 100.0
Democratic hold
2016 election
Main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 8

In 2016, Jeffries faced no primary challenger.[205] He defeated a Conservative Party challenger with 93% of the vote.[206][207]

New York's 8th congressional district, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries 203,235 88.4
Working Families Hakeem Jeffries 11,360 4.9
Total Hakeem Jeffries (incumbent) 214,595 93.3
Conservative Daniel J. Cavanagh 15,401 6.7
Total votes 229,996 100.0
Democratic hold
2018 election
Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 8
 
Jeffries during the 115th Congress

In 2018, Jeffries faced no primary challenger. He was reelected with 94% of the vote.[208]

New York's 8th congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries 170,850 89.3
Working Families Hakeem Jeffries 9,526 5.0
Total Hakeem Jeffries (incumbent) 180,376 94.3
Conservative Ernest Johnson 9,997 5.2
Reform Jessica White 1,031 0.5
Total votes 191,404 100.0
Democratic hold
2020 election
Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 8

In 2020, Jeffries faced no primary challenger. He was reelected with 84% of the vote.[209]

New York's 8th congressional district, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries 207,111 74.8
Working Families Hakeem Jeffries 27,822 10.0
Total Hakeem Jeffries (incumbent) 234,933 84.8
Republican Garfield Wallace 39,124 14.1
Conservative Garfield Wallace 2,883 1.1
Total Garfield Wallace 42,007 15.2
Total votes 276,940 100.0
Democratic hold
2022 election
Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New York § District 8

In 2022, Jeffries faced no notable primary challenger and was reelected with 71.63% of the vote in the general election.[210]

New York's 8th congressional district, 2022[210]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries (incumbent) 99,079 71.63%
Republican Yuri Dashevsky 36,776 26.59%
Conservative Yuri Dashevsky 2,284 1.65%
Total Yuri Dashevsky 39,060 28.24%
Write-in 191 0.14%
Total votes 138,330 100%

Personal life

Jeffries is married to Kennisandra Arciniegas-Jeffries, a social worker with 1199 SEIU's Benefit Fund. They have two sons and live in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.[9][211]

Jeffries is a Baptist.[212]

Jeffries's younger brother, Hasan Kwame Jeffries, is an associate professor of history at Ohio State University[213] and the author of Bloody Lowndes: Civil Rights and Black Power in Alabama's Black Belt.[214]

Hakeem and Hasan are the nephews of Leonard Jeffries, a former professor at City College of New York.[211][215] While in college, Hakeem Jeffries wrote an editorial defending his uncle and Louis Farrakhan when his uncle was invited to speak at Binghamton University.[215][216] He has said he only has a "vague" recollection of the events. His spokesperson said, "Leader Jeffries has consistently been clear that he does not share the controversial views espoused by his uncle over thirty years ago."[215]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hakeem Jeffries Fast Facts". CNN. January 5, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Hakeem Sekou Jeffries – New York – Bio, News, Photos". Washington Times. October 12, 2012. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Halime, Farah (August 25, 2015). "Hakeem Jeffries, 'Brooklyn's Barack'". OZY. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Miss Francies Cephas Plans a June Wedding". The New York Times. January 19, 1967. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "Brooklyn's Hakeem Jeffries poised to become House Democrats' leader".
  6. ^ "Two Leaders Of The New US House Could Put Baptist Diversity In The News Spotlight". Religion Unplugged. January 24, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Biography". December 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. ^ "How Hakeem Jeffries' Fraternity Days Shaped Him". Time. January 21, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  10. ^ "Hakeem Jeffries '97 elected to lead House Democrats | NYU School of Law". www.law.nyu.edu. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Schatz, Phil (January–February 2015). "Hon. Harold Baer Jr. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ "Hakeem Jeffries, 35, Assistant general counsel". Crains. January 2006. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  13. ^ ENGQUIST, ERIK. "Crain's Forty under Forty". Crains. Crain's New York Business. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  14. ^ "Management who's news personnel; AKAM Associates, Inc. announced that Mark Weil has been appointed vice president". Real Estate Weekly. January 23, 2002.
  15. ^ Mauldin, William (August 29, 2002). "Black Leaders Decry Phony Handguns". The New York Sun.
  16. ^ Schapiro, Julie; Colvin, Jill (November 7, 2012). "New York Elections 2012: Gillibrand, Jeffries, Meng Declare Victory As Obama Wins Reelection". huffingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  17. ^ "Hakeem Jeffries: Sponsored Legislation". New York State Assembly. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  18. ^ Brand, Madeleine. "Black Endorsements Divided in New York". Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  19. ^ "Path to Power: Inside Hakeem Jeffries' rise from NYS Assembly to Congress". www.ny1.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  20. ^ "Factbox: Who is U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries?". Reuters. November 30, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  21. ^ Clancy, Michael (July 16, 2010). "Paterson Signs Law Restricting Stop-and-Frisk Database". NBC New York. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  22. ^ Hasselle, Della (July 16, 2010). "Gov. David Paterson Signs Law Ending Stop-and-Frisk Database". Digital Network Associates dba DNAinfo.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  23. ^ Baker, Al; Moynihan, Colin (July 16, 2010). "Paterson Signs Bill Limiting Stop-and-Frisk Data". The New York Times.
  24. ^ Ceasar, Stephen (August 7, 2010). "Inmate Residency Law May Remap State Politics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  25. ^ "New York State Assembly - Member Section". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  26. ^ "H.R. 1501 – Summary". United States Congress. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  27. ^ "Bill To Preserve Brooklyn's Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Passes The House Of Representatives". Office of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. April 29, 2014. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  28. ^ "H.R. 1501 (113th): Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act". govtrack.gov. Gov Track. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  29. ^ "H.R. 5108 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  30. ^ "H.R. 544: Slain Officer Family Support Act of 2015". govtrack.us. GovTrack. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  31. ^ Mueller, Benjamin; Baker, Al (December 20, 2014). "2 N.Y.P.D. Officers Killed in Brooklyn Ambush; Suspect Commits Suicide". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  32. ^ Katinas, Paula (April 2, 2015). "Obama signs Slain Officer Family Support Act". Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  33. ^ Gartland, Michael (May 29, 2015). "Watch your back, de Blasio! Black leaders revolt against mayor". New York Post. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  34. ^ a b Frey, Kevin (January 19, 2023). "Path to Power: Hakeem Jeffries' push to reform the criminal justice system". www.ny1.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  35. ^ "Senate & House Lawmakers Release Updated First Step Act | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. December 12, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  36. ^ Collins, Eliza; Deborah Barfield Berry. "Criminal justice bill passes House, heads to President Trump for his signature". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  37. ^ Collins, Doug (December 22, 2022). "First Step Act showed Republicans and Democrats can work together to make justice system more just". Fox News. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  38. ^ Levine, Robert (November 22, 2022). "Nancy Pelosi's Pick to Replace Her Is a Champion of Music Rights — and a Huge Hip-Hop Fan". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  39. ^ "Canarsie Hosts Congress At Your Corner". Canarsie Courier. CarnariseCourier.com. July 25, 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  40. ^ "Advocate News by TheAdvocate - Issuu". issuu.com. January 17, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  41. ^ Zhou, Li (November 23, 2022). "Hakeem Jeffries's ascent to Democratic leader, explained". Vox. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  42. ^ a b Fuller, Matt (November 28, 2018). "Hakeem Jeffries Wins Contested House Democratic Caucus Chair Race". Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018 – via Huff Post.
  43. ^ "Democrats nominate Pelosi for speaker, a show of strength to be tested in the next Congress". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  44. ^ Abramson, Alana (January 15, 2020). "Hakeem Jeffries Moves to Center Stage as Impeachment Manager". Time. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  45. ^ MacGillivray, Graham; Katherine Tully-McManus (January 22, 2020). "Hakeem Jeffries responds to protester disrupting Senate impeachment trial". Roll Call. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  46. ^ LeBlanc, Paul (January 22, 2020). "House impeachment manager quotes Notorious B.I.G. on the Senate floor | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  47. ^ Jacobs, Emily (January 22, 2020). "Hakeem Jeffries quotes Notorious B.I.G. at Trump impeachment trial". Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  48. ^ Aniftos, Rania (January 23, 2020). "Here's Every Time Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Honored The Notorious B.I.G." Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  49. ^ Hughes, Eliza Collins and Siobhan (November 30, 2022). "House Democrats Pick Hakeem Jeffries to Lead Party". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  50. ^ Cowan, Richard; Warburton, Moira (December 1, 2022). "U.S. House Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries as first Black party leader". Reuters. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  51. ^ Scott, Rachel; Faulders, Katherine; Peller, Lauren; Murray, Isabella (December 1, 2022). "Hakeem Jeffries makes history as 1st Black party leader in Congress". ABC News. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  52. ^ Bump, Philip (January 5, 2023). "McCarthy has received the most lifetime votes for speaker since 1913". Washington Post.
  53. ^ Gambino, Lauren (January 7, 2023). "Kevin McCarthy narrowly loses 14th House speaker vote in stunning setback". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  54. ^ Pollak, Suzanne (January 6, 2023). "Rep. Trone Rushes From Hospital to Capitol". Montgomery Community Media. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  55. ^ Kasperowicz, Peter (January 7, 2023). "Kevin McCarthy elected House speaker in 15th floor vote after days of high drama". Fox News. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  56. ^ Sotomayor, Marianna; Alemany, Jacqueline; Wang, Amy B.; Kane, Paul (January 5, 2023). "McCarthy makes fresh concessions to try to woo hard-right Republicans in speaker bid". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  57. ^ Bump, Philip (January 6, 2023). "Analysis | McCarthy has received the most lifetime votes for speaker since 1913". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  58. ^ "Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913-2023". Congressional Research Service. November 6, 2023.
  59. ^ Hughes, Siobhan (January 6, 2023). "Democratic Rep. Trone Rushes From Surgery in Hospital Socks to Cast Speaker Vote". WSJ. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  60. ^ Martin, Lawrence (January 19, 2023). "Opinion: With his 'alphabet speech,' Hakeem Jeffries proves he knows his ABCs – and how to elevate political oratory". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  61. ^ Bickerton, James (January 7, 2023). "Hakeem Jeffries a-z house speech viewed 2.4 million times". Newsweek. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  62. ^ "Hakeem Jeffries Announces Book about Historic House Minority Leader Speech (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  63. ^ Mike Hayes, Elise Hammond, Tori B. Powell, Jack Forrest and Maureen Chowdhury (October 17, 2023). "Jeffries won the most speaker votes — but that doesn't mean he can win the gavel". CNN. Retrieved November 15, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  64. ^ Zanona, Lauren Fox, Melanie (May 22, 2024). "In fractured GOP majority, Jeffries amasses unusual amount of power as minority leader | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved October 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  65. ^ "What Happens When the U.S. Hits Its Debt Ceiling? | Council on Foreign Relations". www.cfr.org. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  66. ^ "Here are the 6 must-know provisions of the new debt ceiling deal". POLITICO. May 28, 2023. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  67. ^ Dumain, Emma (May 31, 2023). "White House officials tried to sell Democrats on the debt deal. Some weren't having it". Politico.
  68. ^ Weiss, Laura; Reilly, Caitlin; McPherson, Lindsey (May 31, 2023). "Debt limit rule adopted after Democrats ride to rescue". Roll Call. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  69. ^ Carney, Jordan; Wu, Nicholas; Ferris, Sarah (May 31, 2023). "House clears final procedural hurdle before expected passage of debt bill". Politico.
  70. ^ Daniels, Seamus P. (June 15, 2023). "What the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 Means for Defense Spending". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  71. ^ "Rep. Matt Gaetz files motion to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, throwing House into new turmoil". AP News. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  72. ^ "Government shutdown averted with little time to spare as Biden signs funding before midnight". AP News. September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  73. ^ Solender, Andrew (October 3, 2023). "Kevin McCarthy won't get help from House Democrats". Axios.
  74. ^ Escobar, Molly Cook; Elliott, Kennedy; Lee, Jasmine C.; Levitt, Zach; Murphy, John-Michael; Parlapiano, Alicia; Reinhard, Scott; Shorey, Rachel; Wu, Ashley (October 3, 2023). "Vote Count: House Removes McCarthy as Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  75. ^ "Speaker McCarthy ousted in historic House vote, as scramble begins for a Republican leader". AP News. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  76. ^ Jeffries, Hakeem (October 6, 2023). "A bipartisan coalition is the way forward for the House". Washington Post.
  77. ^ Tully-McManus, Katherine (October 6, 2023). "Hakeem Jeffries pitches coalition governing in the House, and major changes to the rules". Politico.
  78. ^ Pierce, Charles (May 1, 2024). "Nothing Passes in the House If Hakeem Jeffries Doesn't Want It to Pass". Esquire. Retrieved September 26, 2024. Solender, Andrew (April 21, 2024). "Hakeem Jeffries emerges as Congress' shadow speaker". Axios. Press, Lisa Mascaro The Associated (May 7, 2024). "Hakeem Jeffries emerges as shadow speaker". The Miami Times. Retrieved September 26, 2024. "The Shadow Speaker". Political Wire. April 21, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024. Cowan, Richard (May 6, 2024). "Democrat Hakeem Jeffries steps up as House Republicans roast Johnson". Reuters.
  79. ^ "Congress Passes Fiscal 2024 Defense Spending Bill, Pay Raise for Service Members". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  80. ^ Hauslohner, Abigail (December 14, 2023). "House passes defense policy bill, a rebuke of GOP's far-right fringe". Washington Post.
  81. ^ Quigley, Aidan (January 7, 2024). "Congressional leaders announce topline deal on appropriations". Roll Call. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  82. ^ "House passes first funding package to avert a partial government shutdown". NBC News. March 6, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  83. ^ "LEADER JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING PACKAGE – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries". Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  84. ^ Hulse, Carl (March 8, 2024). "The Functional Dysfunctional Congress". New York Times.
  85. ^ "VIDEO: LEADER JEFFRIES FLOOR SPEECH IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING PACKAGE – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries". Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  86. ^ Hulse, Carl (March 27, 2023). "Speaker Johnson's only path to legislative salvation: House Democrats". Washington Post.
  87. ^ a b Fox, Lauren; Zanona, Melanie (May 22, 2024). "In fractured GOP majority, Jeffries amasses unusual amount of power as minority leader | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  88. ^ a b Cohen, Lauren Fox, Zachary (April 12, 2024). "House passes modified surveillance bill after it failed earlier this week | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved September 29, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  89. ^ Shutt, Jennifer (February 13, 2024). "U.S. Senate sends to the House a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan • Missouri Independent". Missouri Independent. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  90. ^ Hulse, Carl (April 21, 2024). "Necessity Gives Rise to Bipartisanship — for Now". New York Times.
  91. ^ Greyer, Annie; Talbot, Haley (April 19, 2024). "House takes key step forward on foreign aid bills with Democratic support, setting up final vote Saturday". CNN Politics.
  92. ^ "The House passes billions in aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle. Next is the Senate". AP News. April 20, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  93. ^ O'Donnell, Norah; Chasan, Aliza; Sharman, Keith; Feitel, Roxanne (May 5, 2024). "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats "effectively have been governing as if we were in the majority" - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  94. ^ Kight, Stef (May 9, 2024). "Senate reauthorizes FAA programs". Axios.
  95. ^ Foran, Clare (May 15, 2024). "House passes Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  96. ^ Mascaro, Lisa (May 2, 2024). "Hakeem Jeffries isn't speaker yet, but the Democrat may be the most powerful person in Congress". AP News. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  97. ^ Hulse, Carl (April 29, 2024). "Jeffries's Hint of a Lifeline Bolstered Johnson on Ukraine. Will He Need It?". New York Times.
  98. ^ Solender, Andrew (April 30, 2024). "Inside House Democrats' decision to save Mike Johnson". Axios.
  99. ^ Solender, Andrew (April 30, 2024). "Hakeem Jeffries vows to save Mike Johnson from MTG's motion to vacate". Axios.
  100. ^ "House rejects Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from office". AP News. May 8, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  101. ^ a b Sprunt, Barbara (May 8, 2024). "Bid to oust Speaker Johnson fails but GOP turmoil remains". NPR.
  102. ^ Andrews, Natalie (May 9, 2024). "Hakeem Jeffries Flexes Power as Mike Johnson Flounders". Wall Street Journal.
  103. ^ Robertson, Nick (January 30, 2024). "Jeffries raised more than $113M for House Democrats in 2023". The Hill. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  104. ^ Emily Brooks, Mychael Schnell (August 22, 2024). "Democratic fundraising puts pressure on House Republicans". The Hill. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  105. ^ Nichols, Hans (October 18, 2024). "Exclusive: DCCC brings in $30 million in September". Axios.
  106. ^ "Jeffries' bold House predictions". Punchbowl News. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  107. ^ a b "Jeffries plots House comeback through New York". Punchbowl News. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  108. ^ "Hakeem Jeffries' Speech Lights Up DNC Night 3 With Trump Digs: 'Bro, We Broke Up With You For A Reason'". Yahoo News. August 22, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  109. ^ aliyafaust (August 22, 2024). "From Weeping to Rejoicing: Hakeem Jeffries' DNC Speech Inspired by Psalm 30:5". Elev8. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  110. ^ a b "Rep.Hakeem Jeffries Compares Trump To An Old Boyfriend Trying To Spin The Block With The American People: "We Broke Up With You For A Reason"". Essence. August 22, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  111. ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  112. ^ "Caucuses". Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  113. ^ "Members". U.S. - Japan Caucus. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  114. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Committees and Caucuses – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries". Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  115. ^ Hanna Trudo, Mike Lillis (December 2, 2022). "Progressives warm to Jeffries as new Democratic leader". The Hill. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  116. ^ Mascaro, Lisa (November 30, 2022). "Jeffries wins historic bid to lead House Dems after Pelosi". AP News. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  117. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  118. ^ "Brooklyn Influentials - Hakeem Jeffries: The Rising Star". New York Observer. NY Observer Editorial. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  119. ^ "Congressman Jeffries Appointed To Bipartisan House Task Force On Over-Criminalization". Jeffries.house.gov. Rep. Jeffries Press Release. May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  120. ^ "Membership". Congressional Black Caucus. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  121. ^ "Rep. Jeffries Statement on Today's Election as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus". Rep. Jeffries Press Release. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on December 6, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  122. ^ "Congressional Baseball Game Democratic Roster". Roll Call. June 11, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  123. ^ "Conscience of the Congress".[permanent dead link‍]
  124. ^ Bump, Philip. "Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) brings 'Hands up, don't shoot' to House floor". The Fix. WashingtonPost. Archived from the original on August 6, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  125. ^ "Rep. Jeffries – CBC Special Order on the Voting Rights Act". c-span.org. C-SPAN. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  126. ^ Kaufman, Scott Eric (July 9, 2015). "What tradition does the Confederate flag represent? Is it slavery, rape, genocide, treason, or all of the above?". Salon. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  127. ^ Goldstein, Joseph (August 13, 2014). "Six Members of Congress ask Holder to Open Federal Inquiry in Chokehold Case". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  128. ^ "Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Visits Eric Garner Site". CNN. CNN Videos. December 9, 2014. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  129. ^ Moore, Tina (April 27, 2015). "Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Eric Garner's mother call for federal ban on police chokeholds". nydailynews. New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  130. ^ "Jeffries Sponsors Bill Outlawing the Use of Chokeholds by Police". bkreader. The Brooklyn Reader. April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  131. ^ Pillifant, Reid (April 16, 2013). "The new congressman from gun-afflicted Brooklyn is hopeful on background checks". POLITICO. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  132. ^ Karanth, Sanjana (March 30, 2023). "Hakeem Jeffries Blasts GOP For Silence On Gun Control After Nashville School Shooting". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  133. ^ "Exclusive: Jeffries demands vote on gun reforms in letter". www.ny1.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  134. ^ "REP. JEFFRIES STATEMENT ON THE EXTREME SUPREME COURT DECISION TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries". Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  135. ^ Solender, Andrew (June 16, 2023). "Scoop: House Dems try to squeeze GOP on abortion". Axios.
  136. ^ "House Democrats look to circumvent GOP on abortion bill". www.ny1.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  137. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 217". Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  138. ^ "House Debate on the Equality Act". C-SPAN. May 17, 2019. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  139. ^ Pazmino, Gloria (June 5, 2024). "NY Gov Hochul delays controversial NYC congestion pricing plan 'indefinitely'". CNN.
  140. ^ Khalifeh, Ramsey (August 5, 2024). "Rep. Hakeem Jeffries calls NYC congestion pricing pause 'reasonable'". Gothamist.
  141. ^ Goldenberg, Sally (June 4, 2024). "Hochul considering congestion pricing delay amid concerns from Democratic leaders". Politico.
  142. ^ Schiller, Melissa (April 17, 2023). "US Representatives Reintroduce Bipartisan PREPARE Act to Pave the Way for Federal Cannabis Legalization".
  143. ^ Conley, Julia (May 28, 2021). "Rights Groups Applaud Reintroduction of MORE Act to Reverse Harms of War on Drugs". Common Dreams. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  144. ^ Paybarah, Azi. "Jeffries criticizes de Blasio for stop-and-frisk claim". Capital NY. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  145. ^ Mathias, Christopher (May 28, 2014). "NYPD Still Making Thousands Of Marijuana Arrests, And One Lawmaker Has Had Enough". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  146. ^ "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  147. ^ Hauf, Patrick (November 18, 2022). "Election denier Hakeem Jeffries could replace Pelosi as House Dem leader". foxnews.com. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  148. ^ Robinson, Steve (November 18, 2022). "Democrats Poised to Make Election Denier New House Leader". themainewire.com. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  149. ^ "Congressional Ukraine Caucus". Congressman Brad Sherman. August 16, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  150. ^ "@RepJeffries: We must stand with Ukraine until victory is won. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦". Twitter. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  151. ^ "Rep. Jeffries backs $2B in US aid to 'incredibly brave' Ukraine". PIX11. February 24, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  152. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (April 20, 2024). "Roll Call 152 Roll Call 152, Bill Number: H. R. 8034, 118th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 22, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  153. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (April 20, 2024). "Roll Call 151 Roll Call 151, Bill Number: H. R. 8035, 118th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 22, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  154. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (April 20, 2024). "Roll Call 146 Roll Call 146, Bill Number: H. R. 8036, 118th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 22, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  155. ^ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
  156. ^ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
  157. ^ Tribune, Rochelle Olson Star (April 29, 2023). "Rep. Dean Phillips travels to Israel and Ghana with Democratic Leader Jeffries of New York". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  158. ^ a b Rod, Marc (May 1, 2023). "House Democrats will 'lean in on our strong support' for Israel, Jeffries says following Israel trip". Jewish Insider. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  159. ^ Jeffries, Hakeem (April 29, 2023). "Returning from Israel". Medium. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  160. ^ "Pro-Israel Democrat Jeffries elected first-ever Black House minority leader". The Times of Israel.
  161. ^ McConnell, Patrick (November 30, 2022). "Forward: Hakeem Jeffries, a staunchly pro-Israel Democrat, will lead his party in the U.S. House". Democratic Majority for Israel. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  162. ^ "House Dems have new leadership. Where do they stand on Israel?". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. December 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  163. ^ Kornbluh, Jacob (December 1, 2022). "Hakeem Jeffries, a staunchly pro-Israel Democrat, will lead his party in the U.S. House". The Forward. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  164. ^ a b McGreal, Chris (November 29, 2022). "Hakeem Jeffries' likely elevation set to please US pro-Israel groups". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  165. ^ "Hakeem Jeffries on Israel, Ghana, and Representing Brooklyn". AJC. June 1, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  166. ^ Top House Dem: 'Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad' | CNN Politics, October 8, 2023, retrieved October 12, 2023
  167. ^ "CBC divided over the Biden-Harris administration response to the Israel-Hamas conflict". Yahoo News. November 10, 2023.
  168. ^ Axelrod, Tal (November 14, 2023). "Thousands gather in Washington to demonstrate in support of Israel". ABC News. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  169. ^ Magid, Jacob (November 15, 2023). "'Let our people go': Nearly 300,000 rally in Washington for Israel, hostages' release". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  170. ^ Barron, James (August 23, 2000). "Public Lives". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  171. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (June 5, 2000). "In Brooklyn, New Insurgent Takes On an Old Challenger". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  172. ^ "NY Assembly 57 – D Primary Race – Sep 12, 2000". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  173. ^ a b Hicks, Jonathan P. (July 22, 2002). "Rematch Produces Spirited Primary Race for Assembly Seat in Brooklyn". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  174. ^ "NY Assembly 57 Race – Nov 07, 2000". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  175. ^ a b In District Lines, Critics See Albany Protecting Its Own. The New York Times. November 2, 2004
  176. ^ "How Hakeem Jeffries Was Gerrymandered Out of His Own District and Other True Tales". February 25, 2011. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  177. ^ "How Hakeem Jeffries Became the Barack of Brooklyn". The New York Observer. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  178. ^ Louis, Errol (September 9, 2002). "Mud Flying for Primary As Election Day Nears". The New York Sun.
  179. ^ "NY Assembly 57 – D Primary Race – Sep 10, 2002". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  180. ^ "Eye On Albany: Campaign 2002". Gotham Gazette. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  181. ^ Gerrymandering: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), April 9, 2017, retrieved October 16, 2023
  182. ^ Assemblyman Roger Green Resigns, But Shows Signs He'll Run Again. The New York Sun. June 2, 2004
  183. ^ "NY Assembly 57- D Primary Race – Sep 12, 2006". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  184. ^ "Desperately seeking spitzer". Daily News (New York). September 9, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2010. [dead link‍]
  185. ^ "Summer 2007" (PDF). Prime New York. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  186. ^ "NY Assembly 57 Race – Nov 07, 2006". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  187. ^ "NY Assembly 57 Race – Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  188. ^ "NY Assembly 57 Race – Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  189. ^ Sale, Anna. "Rep. Towns Retirement Signals Power Shift in Brooklyn". The Empire. NPR. Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  190. ^ Dobnik, Verena (April 16, 2012). "NYC's Towns retiring after 30 years in Congress". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  191. ^ Freedlander, David (March 1, 2011). "How Hakeem Jeffries Became the Barack of Brooklyn". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  192. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (May 19, 2011). "New York politicians go to town on House bid". Politico. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  193. ^ Freedlander, David (May 9, 2011). "Hakeem Jeffries Opens Congressional Exploratory Committee". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  194. ^ Walker, Hunter (June 11, 2012). "Politicians Gather To Denounce Charles Barron As An 'Anti-Semite' And 'Enemy of the State of Israel'". Politicker. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  195. ^ Charles Barron Dismisses 'Anti-Semitic' Press Conference As A 'Distraction' Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Politicker, June 11, 2012
  196. ^ "Obama Camp Signals Opposition To "Reckless Clown" Barron". Buzzfeed.com. BuzzFeed News. June 14, 2012. Archived from the original on June 15, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  197. ^ a b Kuntzman, Gersh (June 27, 2012). "Hakeem Jeffries Defeats Charles Barron in Bitter Democratic Primary - The Local – Fort-Greene Blog - NYTimes.com". Fort-greene.thelocal.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  198. ^ "Jeffries Adds Southern Brooklyn Muscle in Race Against Barron/". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
  199. ^ "Citizens united". Newyorkdailynews.com. NewYorkDailyNews. July 2, 2012. Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  200. ^ a b c "2012 U.S. House of Representatives Primary Election Results Archived November 28, 2022, at the Wayback Machine". Elections.NY.gov.
  201. ^ "Your full guide to election returns". Home Reporter News. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  202. ^ "Residents Outraged at Hakeem Jeffries' Debate Boycott". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014.
  203. ^ "House Ceremonial Swearing-In Ceremony, Part 2 | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  204. ^ "NYS Board of Elections" Archived May 4, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. NYS Board of Elections. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  205. ^ Max, Ben. "New York Congressional Primary Results; Espaillat, Teachout Among Winners". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  206. ^ "New York U.S. House 8th District Results: Hakeem Jeffries Wins". The New York Times. August 1, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  207. ^ New York State Official Election Night Results. New York Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  208. ^ "New York Election Results: Eighth House District". The New York Times. January 28, 2019. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  209. ^ "2020 Election Results" Archived January 15, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  210. ^ a b "New York Eighth Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  211. ^ a b Perlman, Matthew J. "The Big Profile: Who Is Hakeem Jeffries?". Fort-greene.thelocal.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  212. ^ "Hakeem S. Jeffries". Congressional Directory for the 116th Congress (2019-2020). U.S. Government Publishing Office. July 2020. pp. 186–187.
  213. ^ https://history.osu.edu/directory/Jeffries57 Archived August 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  214. ^ Jeffries, Hasan Kwame (July 2009). Bloody Lowndes Civil Rights and Black Power in Alabama's Black Belt. NYU Press. ISBN 9780814743065. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  215. ^ a b c Steck, Andrew Kaczynski, Em (April 12, 2023). "Hakeem Jeffries' 'vague recollection' of controversy surrounding his uncle undermined by college editorial defending him | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved April 15, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  216. ^ Jeffries, Hakeem (1992). "The Black Conservative Phenomenon". www.documentcloud.org. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hakeem Jeffries.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 57th district
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 8th congressional district
2013–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
2017–2019
Served alongside: Cheri Bustos, David Cicilline 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the House Democratic Conference
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by House Minority Leader
2023–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
127th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hakeem_Jeffries&oldid=1256107196"