Looking at House Leadership Ahead of 119th Congress

Posted by Madeline Robertson on November 26, 2024

Continuing our blog series on White House appointments and congressional changes, today we are highlighting the recently re-elected House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8).  

Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8)-House Minority Leader 

On Tuesday of last week, current House Leader Hakeem Jeffries won re-election as the House Minority leader. Democrats will be in the minority for the next two years.  Leader Jeffries is expected to challenge current Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for the Speakership position when the new congress is sworn in on January 3, 2025, but it is expected that Rep. Johnson will keep the gavel as Republicans will have control over the House.  

Leader Jeffries has vowed to work with his Republican colleagues on bipartisan legislation as best as possible. As the Democratic leader in the House, Jeffries will represent the party on the House floor, manage his party’s agenda and legislative priorities, and help organize the party amongst House Committees and supportive constructs. Prior to his initial election to become the House Minority Leader, Jeffries served as the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus. He also previously co-chaired the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, a position now held by a leader GoWest credit union advocates are well familiar with: Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO-2).  

The rest of the Democratic House leadership also won their respective re-election bids.  Representative Pete Aguilar (D-CA-33) was re-elected as Democratic Caucus Chair and Representative Katherine Clark (D-MA-5) was re-elected as the House Minority Whip. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) won re-election as Democratic Party Chair. Representative Dingell was the only re-elect being challenged. She was challenged by Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), but ultimately Rep. Dingell maintained her position.  

Jeffries graduated from State University of New York Binghamton then went on to earn his master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and his JD at New York University School of Law. Before he was elected to Congress, he spent 6 years serving in the New York State Legislature and as a corporate attorney in New York City. Rep. Jeffries has been in Congress since 2013.  

While GoWest will be in the Beltway for the swearing in and will maintain a constant presence, our first collective opportunity to advocate before the 119th Congress will be at the America’s Credit Unions Governmental Affairs Conference March 2-6. Consider being part of it! More information can be found online.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Federal Advocacy.