Hakeem Jeffries set to become first Black House speaker

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the first Black speaker of the House after Democrats won majority control in the midterm elections, with a vote expected when the new Congress convenes January 3. The position is second in line to the presidency. Jeffries, a 56-year-old Brooklyn-born lawyer serving since 2013, would replace Republican Mike Johnson and lead Democrats in confronting President Donald Trump's final two years. He has promised a 100-day agenda focused on lowering costs and holding the administration accountable through oversight and investigations. The rise marks a milestone tracing back to Joseph Rainey, the first Black American elected to the House in 1870. Jeffries, supported by colleagues Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, faces challenges managing an unruly chamber with a leftward-pushing freshman class while maintaining the largest moderate caucus.