# Hakeem Jeffries, the level-headed Democrat poised to become the first Black speaker of the House of Representatives

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/hakeem-jeffries-the-level-headed-democrat-poised-to-become-the-first-black-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives/
- Published: 2026-11-05T12:29:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T13:53:25+00:00
- Original publisher: El País (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://english.elpais.com/usa/2026-11-05/hakeem-jeffries-the-level-headed-democrat-poised-to-become-the-first-black-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives.html
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Democrats retook the House in the midterms.
- Jeffries is positioned to become its first Black speaker.
- He still needs to win support from fellow Democrats.

## Summary

Democrats won control of the House in the midterm elections, putting Hakeem Jeffries in line to become the first Black speaker of the chamber. The New York congressman, who has led House Democrats since 2023, celebrated the result by declaring that “America is back”; he must still secure enough support from colleagues in a divided party.

Jeffries, 56, was comfortably re-elected to an eighth term representing New York’s 8th District. Raised in working-class Brooklyn, he worked as a corporate lawyer and served in the New York State Assembly before entering Congress. Known for a cautious, moderate and collaborative style, he has also faced criticism that he can be slow to respond to political crises.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.