Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y) announced his bid to replace House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as the leader of the House Democratic caucus on Friday.
“When I initially sought the position of Chair of the House Democratic Caucus two terms ago, none of us could have predicted the challenges the American people would confront in the years to come. However, time and time again, throughout a period of enormous turmoil for our nation, House Democrats rose to the occasion,” Jeffries wrote in a letter to House Democrats.
“Today, I write to humbly ask you for your support for the position of House Democratic Leader as we once again prepare to meet the moment,” he added.
Jeffries has widespread support among House Democrats and appears to be on track to becoming the next leader of the caucus.
If successful, Jeffries will become the first Black person to lead any party in Congress and will replace Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House.
Pelosi stepped down on Thursday after two decades as the leader of House Democrats, saying it is time for new leaders.
Following Pelosi’s announcement, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, and Majority Whip James Clyburn, 82, both announce they will step down from their leadership roles as well.
Both Hoyer and Clyburn have endorsed Jeffries to be the next leader of the House Democratic caucus.
“Speaker Pelosi has left an indelible mark on Congress and the country, and I look forward to her continued service and doing whatever I can to assist our new generation of Democratic leaders, which I hope to be Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Peter Aguilar,” Clyburn told CNN in a statement.
Reps. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) announced their bids on Friday for Democratic Whip and House Democratic Caucus Chair respectively.
Democrats will head into the 118th Congress in the minority as Republicans narrowly won control of the House in the midterm elections.
