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Hakeem Jeffries

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Article Genealogy
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Hakeem Jeffries
NameHakeem Jeffries
CaptionOfficial portrait, 2023
OfficeHouse Minority Leader
Term startJanuary 3, 2023
PredecessorKevin McCarthy
Office2Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
Term start2January 3, 2019
Term end2January 3, 2023
Predecessor2Joe Crowley
Successor2Pete Aguilar
State3New York
District38th
Term start3January 3, 2013
Predecessor3Edolphus Towns
PartyDemocratic
Birth date4 August 1970
Birth placeBrooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
SpouseKennisandra Arciniegas, 2011
EducationBinghamton University (BA), Georgetown University (MPP), New York University School of Law (JD)

Hakeem Jeffries is an American politician and attorney serving as the House Minority Leader since 2023, representing New York's 8th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in 2012 and previously chaired the House Democratic Caucus. Jeffries represents a district covering parts of Brooklyn and Queens, including neighborhoods like Bedford–Stuyvesant and Crown Heights. He succeeded Nancy Pelosi as the top Democrat in the House of Representatives following the 2022 elections.

Early life and education

Hakeem Sekou Jeffries was born on August 4, 1970, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He was raised in a politically engaged, union household; his mother was a state education employee and his father a substance abuse counselor. He attended Midwood High School before enrolling at the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Jeffries subsequently obtained a Master of Public Policy from the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy and a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law.

Early career

Before entering politics, Jeffries worked as a lawyer in private practice and served as a clerk for Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He later worked as an attorney for the media conglomerates CBS and Viacom, focusing on litigation and intellectual property law. His first foray into public office was an unsuccessful 2006 primary challenge against longtime New York State Assembly incumbent Roger L. Green. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006, representing the 57th district, where he served for three terms and focused on issues like criminal justice reform and foreclosure prevention.

U.S. House of Representatives

Jeffries was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 2012 election, succeeding retiring 15-term incumbent Edolphus Towns in New York's 8th congressional district. He has been re-elected comfortably every two years since. In the 116th United States Congress, he served as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, the fifth-ranking position in the party's leadership. He has served on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Budget Committee, playing a prominent role during the first impeachment and second impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Political positions

Jeffries is a mainstream progressive Democrat who supports the Affordable Care Act, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and expansive voting rights legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. He has advocated for student loan debt cancellation and significant federal investment in infrastructure, supporting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. On foreign policy, he is a strong supporter of Israel and NATO, and has backed military aid to Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. He has been critical of the Supreme Court decisions in cases like Citizens United v. FEC and Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Leadership and elections

Following the 2022 midterm elections, the House Democratic Caucus unanimously elected Jeffries to succeed Nancy Pelosi as their leader, making him the first African American to lead a major party in Congress. He formally became the House Minority Leader in the 118th United States Congress. In the protracted Speaker election in January 2023, Jeffries received the unanimous support of the Democratic caucus for all 15 ballots, though the Republican majority ultimately elected Kevin McCarthy. He led Democratic opposition to the McCarthy–Biden debt ceiling deal and has been a key figure in negotiations over government funding.

Personal life

Jeffries is married to Kennisandra Arciniegas, a former New York City social worker; they have two sons and reside in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and attends the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn. An avid sports fan, he supports the New York Knicks, New York Mets, and Brooklyn Nets. His younger brother, Hasan Jeffries, is an associate professor of history at the Ohio State University specializing in the Civil rights movement.

Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives Category:New York Democrats