The renewal of the leadership of the Democratic Party in the US House of Representatives, this Wednesday (30), marked more than the arrival of the first black congressman to command a party in the Legislative of the country – the deputy Hakeem Jeffries, chosen leader of the subtitle.
Numbers 2 and 3 in the hierarchy will be occupied by a woman and a man of Latin origin. It is the first time that there will not be a white man in charge of the party in Congress.
The change comes after the current speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, announced that she would not run again for the Democratic leadership, in a move that followed the loss of the majority in the House in the mid-term legislative elections, at the beginning of the month.
The new configuration of the Legislature will take office on January 3, with the presidency falling to the Republican Party. Therefore, Jeffries will be minority leader.
Pelosi has been the Democratic leader in the House since 2003, and the appointment of the new leadership also marks a generational shift. The deputy for California is 82 years old, and her successor, from New York, is 52. Beside him, Katherine M. Clark, 59, from Massachusetts, and Pete Aguilar, 43, from California, rose to the highest posts.
The latter, of Mexican descent and elected for the first time in 2014, next year will still be the highest ranking Latino in the US Congress.
The changes may indicate greater attention to agendas linked to ethnic minorities, which, on the other hand, does not mean a gain in space for the left wing of the Democratic Party. This is because, despite being linked to causes of the black movement, Jeffries maintains a centrist line, in the style of his predecessor, and marks the continuity of the so-called “mainstream democrats” in command of the legend.
Born in Brooklyn, Jeffries is a lawyer by training and tried out for politics a few times before being elected state representative in New York in 2006. Six years later, he made it to the federal House for the first time. Among its projects and flags are proposals in favor of black populations, against police abuse and in defense of guaranteeing access to vote for minorities.
He gained prominence above all when he was named one of the “managers” of then-President Donald Trump’s first impeachment request, in 2020 – he was one of seven Democratic congressmen who acted as a kind of prosecutors in the case.
The position he will assume in January could also catapult him to Speaker of the House —and number 2 in the presidential succession—, if the Democrats regain the majority in the next elections, which will take place in 2024.
Jeffries distanced himself from the party’s leftist agenda by not signing, for example, a resolution by Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, star of that wing, demanding the creation of the so-called “Green New Deal”, a package to contain the climate crisis with reduction targets pollutant emissions. He has also spoken out in favor of proposals that penalize companies and citizens that support movements to boycott the State of Israel.
Although Jeffries had clashes with this group, he managed to unite the legend this Wednesday and was unanimously elected.
Of the three new leaders, Katherine M. Clark is the only one close to the party’s most progressive caucus. AOC congratulated the trio this Wednesday. “This is the most significant generational shift we’ve seen in House Democrats in several decades. I believe we would benefit from a debate about what that means,” she said.
In a statement, Pelosi also celebrated her elected colleagues. “Together, this new generation of leaders reflects the vitality and diversity of our great nation — and they will invigorate our caucus with their new energy, ideas and perspectives.”
The group will face a tough Chamber from next year. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, the main candidate to take over as president in January, has said he will open investigations against President Joe Biden and block proposals to increase spending – and that he may even open impeachment proceedings against cabinet members. of the Democrat.
Republicans are also threatening to reverse current administration policies, for example by passing measures to tighten border security and restrict immigration. The Senate, it is worth remembering, will continue with a pro-Biden majority.
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