WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to step down from her leadership role after her fellow Democrats lost their majority in last week’s midterm elections positions Hakeem Jeffries – a liberal congressman from New York – as a likely top contender to lead the party for the next two years.
Jeffries, 52, would be the first Black House Democratic leader, representing both the party’s diverse voter base and bringing a new generation of leadership. Pelosi, the first woman to hold the job of speaker, is 82, and two other members of the party’s leadership are in their 80s. House Democrats are scheduled to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30.
Jeffries, who has held the leadership post of House Democratic Caucus chairman since 2019, also would represent a stylistic contrast to Pelosi, who made her announcement yesterday. She has proven in two stints as speaker to be hard-charging whereas he is generally considered more reserved.
“It’s Jeffries’ to lose,” said one House Democratic aide keeping close watch of leadership jostling, who asked not to be identified.
Pelosi and other senior Democrats have been under pressure to give way to a younger generation of Democrats in the 435-seat House.
Some other top Democrats may also covet becoming the top House Democrat.
Current House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, said he would not seek a leadership position in the next Congress and backed Jeffries.
Also in the mix for the top leadership job might be the current No. 3 House Democrat, 82-year-old James Clyburn of South Carolina. Clyburn has been an important voice in the Congressional Black Caucus and played a major role in energizing President Joe Biden’s 2020 primary election campaign.
Clyburn told reporters ahead of Pelosi’s announcement that he intends to remain in the House Democratic leadership regardless of the path she takes.
“I plan to stay in leadership. I’ve been saying that all year,” Clyburn said, adding that he has “no idea” which leadership post he would fill in the next Congress.
“It’s up to the caucus,” Clyburn said.
Representative Katherine Clark, 59, of Massachusetts is likely to run for the No. 2 Democratic leadership job, a post known as “whip.” Clark has served in leadership positions and, like Jeffries, is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Moderate Californian Pete Aguilar could move up from vice chairman of the caucus to become chairman, the job Jeffries now holds.
The next House Democratic leader will be expected to work closely with others in party leadership on legislation, strategy and messaging.
Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, 62, has also risen in prominence over the past few years thanks to his leading role in the impeachment of Donald Trump and the subsequent investigation into the Republican former president’s role in the attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
But Schiff does not have his eyes on a House leadership position and instead is considering a run for the U.S. Senate, a source familiar with his thinking said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The post of minority leader wields far less clout that the speaker. The Democratic leadership team’s duty in the minority will be deciding if and when to help Republicans get essential legislation passed such as government funding bills, amid potential revolts from far-right Republicans.
Georgetown
If Jeffries is elected to replace Pelosi it would be a matter of interest for Georgetown as he has on several occasions criticised the current Guyana Government and raised concerns about racism here but without providing evidence.
He also ignored an invitation to meet President Irfaan Ali during a recent visit by the latter to Washington.
Addressing Seventh-day Adventist members at a church in New York on an occasion called Guyana Day in June this year, Jeffries, who is Chairman of the Congressional Democratic Caucus and a rising star in the Democratic Party, described the Guyanese community in the US as hard working, entrepreneurial, family-oriented, community-centred and spiritually sound.
Jeffries, in the four-minute address, however said those living in Guyana are doing so “under very difficult circumstances with a Government who has not consistently treated everyone consistent with the principle of equal protection under the law”.
“And we are not going to tolerate racism here, we are not going to tolerate racism down in Guyana either and we going to continue to do everything necessary to get things moving in a fairer more equitable direction,” he said to loud applause.
Last year August the PPP/C Government had issued a statement saying that it was disappointed at comments made by the Congressman at what it said was a series of events in New York that were organized by the Guyanese Organizations Against Racism (GOAR).
The statement was referring to an event titled “Anti-PPP Racism March & Rally” that was held last year August in Brooklyn, New York.
“We note the numerous malicious and false claims made by several Members of Parliament, Regional representatives and other persons associated with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) political party. We wish to place on record that we reject all the statements delivered at today’s (August 15th 2021) march and rally. The APNU continues to propagate racial division and tension in Guyana and in the Diaspora through the dissemination of inaccurate information about the Government of Guyana and by extension, the People’s Progressive Party. These attacks are mere desperation by the APNU who, one year later, refuses to accept the results of the 2020 General Elections needless to say, after a lengthy court battle”, the statement had said.
The statement was in response to remarks by Jeffries and said it found them to be appalling.
“We are disappointed that the Congressman has allowed himself to be negatively influenced by individuals who are … instigating … division amongst our people.
“We call on the Congressman to desist from joining with these individuals in creating chaos in our communities at home and in the Diaspora. We invite the Congressman Jeffries to have discussions with us on matters of mutual interest”, the statement had further said.
