Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives Wikipedia

Table Of Content

• Looking ahead to the 2024 elections
• From Bakersfield to speaker of the House: Kevin McCarthy’s D.C. career in photos
• Georgian lawmakers move closer to passing ‘Russian …
• From working with Black Panthers to calling for cease-fire, Barbara Lee stands by her beliefs
• House Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries as Congress’ first Black party leader
• News
• Origin of the post
• First Black Lawmaker to Lead a Party

Democratic leaders said they would vote to table or dismiss Greene's resolution to vacate the chair against Johnson, R-La. — a move that would effectively kill the resolution — providing a safety blanket for Johnson even if more GOP critics join Greene. Katherine ClarkAssists leadership in managing party's legislative program.

Looking ahead to the 2024 elections

Just such a "motion to vacate the chair" was filed against Johnson in March by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. But Greene has yet to make the motion "privileged," which under the rules would necessitate a vote within two days. He stumbled a bit in his reelection bid, but the minority leader won Tuesday and then took control of the Senate.

From Bakersfield to speaker of the House: Kevin McCarthy’s D.C. career in photos

The title has undergone several name changes, with the title being known as the titular "Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives" during Pelosi's second speakership; it is said to replace the Assistant to the Leader post first established in 1999; and previously held by Chris Van Hollen. The whip keeps track of all legislation and ensures that all party members are present when important measures are to be voted upon. The minority party offers opposition, but it is of marginal significance, typically because the minority is so small. "The Speaker and Minority Leader shall be ex officio members of the select committee but shall have no vote in the select committee and may not be counted for purposes of determining a quorum." In addition, each leader may designate a member of his leadership staff to assist him with his ex officio duties. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, was reported to be backing off a bid for a leadership role, in the aftermath of an embarrassing strategic error over a letter from progressives to Biden about US aid to Ukraine. Since 2013, he has represented some of the nation’s most iconic Black neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Democrats fume at Mike Johnson over antisemitism vote - Axios

Democrats fume at Mike Johnson over antisemitism vote.

Posted: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:00:57 GMT [source]

Georgian lawmakers move closer to passing ‘Russian …

The Brooklyn-born Jeffries, 52, was a lawyer before serving six years in the New York State Assembly, which he left at the end of 2012 after his election to Congress. On Tuesday night, the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted unanimously to grant Pelosi the honorific title of speaker emerita. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told theGrio this week that Biden thinks Jeffries is “incredibly impressive” and is looking forward to working alongside him as the new House Democratic leader. “There’s nothing more unifying than being in the minority and having a cleareyed objective and goal of getting back into the majority so we can continue to deliver big things for everyday Americans,” he said.

Their departure ushers in a younger generation of Democratic leadership, including the 52-year-old Jeffries. He is joined by 59-year-old Massachusetts Representative Katherine Clark and 43-year-old California Representative Pete Aguilar as whip and chairman of the caucus, respectively. Hakeem Jeffries (born August 4, 1970, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.) American Democratic politician who serves in the U.S. The House minority leader from 2023, Jeffries is the first Black person to lead a major party in either house of Congress. It is highly improbable that any Republicans would defect and vote for Mr. Jeffries, handing the speaker’s gavel to the leader of the opposing party.

House Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries as Congress’ first Black party leader

According to the group Open Secrets, which tracks campaign contributions, Jeffries also counted pro-Israel advocacy groups such as AIPAC among his top supporters. AIPAC has also endorsed dozens of Republican candidates who attempted to roll back or discredit the results of the 2020 election. The statement called the report’s accusations “demonstrably false, dangerous and designed to isolate Israel in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the world”. However, Jeffries has staked out a more conservative position in the debate about the Democratic Party’s future and is expected to use his position to beat back challenges from the party’s more progressive left flank.

News

The well-respected No. 2 Republican, Eric Cantor of Virginia, had lost his primary in 2014. The No. 3, McCarthy, soon ran aground over remarks in a TV interview and lacked the votes to be speaker. The party settled on Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who had not sought the gavel but agreed to take it. The No. 2 Republican at the time did not have the votes, and the No. 3 declined to run.

Democrats prepare to ride to Johnson's rescue, gingerly - Roll Call

Democrats prepare to ride to Johnson's rescue, gingerly.

Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

In a previous speech, he claimed that Jewish people helped finance the transatlantic slave trade, which not only put Leonard’s academic career in jeopardy, but also created controversy on the mostly white campus. Hakeem found himself in the difficult spot of balancing the university’s speaking invitation with accusations of anti-Semitism and censorship. But he showed a prowess for navigating difficult situations and an ability to calm tensions. He attended law school at New York University, graduating with honors and becoming a successful corporate lawyer before running for elected office.

In his new post, Aguilar will lead caucus meetings and hold weekly news conferences. The position is limited to two consecutive terms, but Aguilar would be poised to become majority whip if Democrats take back the House in 2024. The historic selection of Jeffries as the incoming minority leader means he will replace Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) in January as the highest-ranking African American in the House and become the first Black lawmaker to lead either party in the chamber. Jeffries has emerged as a new and fresh voice of opposition to Republicans after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who shepherded House Democrats for nearly 30 years, stepped down from party leadership. Democrats tell theGrio that they are ready to resist the Republican agenda and will lay the groundwork for their opportunity to reclaim power in the House.

At a press conference following the vote, Jeffries noted how his confirmation landed on the birthday of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress. As someone who represented some of the same neighborhoods that she did, Jeffries framed the significance of his election by reflecting on her legacy and what his party could learn from it. Pelosi praised the leadership team following the caucus election Wednesday, saying the new leaders will "reinvigorate our Caucus with their new energy, ideas and perspective."

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Progressive Caucus, told reporters Wednesday that she had met with Jeffries and supports his leadership. That group of octogenarians will continue their service into the next Congress, though only Clyburn wants to remain in leadership. But he’s facing an eleventh-hour challenge for the post of assistant Democratic leader from Rhode Island’s Rep. David Cicilline, who announced a surprise bid Wednesday.

Mr. Jeffries was expected to emerge from Tuesday’s balloting as the House minority leader, given the Republicans’ narrow majority. With the Republican Party fracturing, he ended up receiving more support in the first three rounds of voting for speaker than the main Republican candidate, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California — but not the majority needed to win. He ascended to caucus chairman in 2019, serving two terms in a higher tier of leadership, leading caucus meetings and hosting weekly news conferences alongside Aguilar, his deputy. The incoming group of Democratic leaders will succeed the party’s longtime leadership trio of Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, and Clyburn, the majority whip. Jeffries will be joined in the top tier of Democratic leadership by Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts as minority whip and California’s Rep. Pete Aguilar of Redlands as House Democratic Caucus chair. Another Californian, Rep. Ted Lieu of Torrance, won a contested race for caucus vice chair.

Moved by what he described as a desire to “advance the ball for everyday Americans”, he first won election to the New York state assembly, where he sat for six years. Shortly before Thanksgiving, Pelosi, who has led Democrats since 2003, announced that she intended to pass the torch and would support Jeffries, another barrier-breaking leader. Pelosi tapped Jeffries to serve as an impeachment manager for the Senate trial in January of 2020 — a high profile position for those who would prosecute their case on national television. Crow was on the team and recounted a tense moment during the Senate trial when a protester burst into the chamber during Jeffries' presentation and it was unclear if he had a weapon or would threaten the lawmakers inside. One younger House Democrat, Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., who was elected in 2016, told NPR she was excited about the major shift in who will lead her party in the House. Barragán pointed out that she and Jeffries come from similar backgrounds, with working-class parents.

They must also be prepared "to debate on the floor, ad lib, no notes, on a moment's notice," remarked Minority Leader Michel.[43] In brief, minority leaders are key strategists in developing and promoting the party's agenda and in outlining ways to neutralize the opposition's arguments and proposals. Second, Democrats have always elevated their minority floor leader to the speakership upon reclaiming majority status. In 1919, for instance, Republicans bypassed James R. Mann, R-IL, who had been minority leader for eight years, and elected Frederick Gillett, R-MA, to be Speaker. The minority leader serves as floor leader of the "loyal opposition," and is the minority counterpart to the Speaker.

Jeffries will be replacing California Representative and current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as head of the Democratic caucus. Washington, DC – Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he highlighted that House Democrats will continue to defend every American's freedom and protect our national security while extreme MAGA Republicans continue to try to turn back the clock. The minority party develops alternatives and agendas of its own and attempts to construct winning coalitions on their behalf. Pelosi congratulated the new leaders on their elevation, saying in a statement that she looks forward to an "orderly transition" before the next Congress. Serving alongside Jeffries will be Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, who was elected Democratic whip, and Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, who was selected as caucus chairman. "That's what Democrats do. That's what our record says. Each and every day, House Democrats, committed to fighting hard for working families, middle class folks, those who aspire to be part of the middle class," Jeffries said.

That would be viewed as political treason by Republican lawmakers and voters alike. House Democrats rallied behind Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York as their pick for speaker of the House on Tuesday, uniting — again — around a liberal lawyer and disciplined political tactician as the face of their opposition to the Republican majority. On a day otherwise consumed by raucous infighting among Republicans, Mr. Jeffries’s ascent made history. And, at 52, he represents a generational change for House Democrats after two decades under Representative Nancy Pelosi.