Hakeem Jeffries

Hakeem Jeffries
Born	Hakeem Sekou Jeffries 4 8, 1970
Birthplace	Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Title	House Minority Leader
Known for	First African American to lead a major party caucus in the United States Congress
Education	New York University School of Law (J.D.)
Children	2
Awards	Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40
Website	[http://jeffries.house.gov/ Official site]

Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (born August 4, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as House Minority Leader and leader of the House Democratic Caucus since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Jeffries has represented New York's 8th congressional district, anchored in Brooklyn, since 2013 and is currently in his seventh term in the United States House of Representatives. Before entering Congress, he served three terms as a member of the New York State Assembly representing the 57th district from 2007 to 2012. Born and raised in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood, Jeffries attended New York University School of Law, where he graduated with honors before working as a corporate attorney. In November 2022, the members of the House Democratic Caucus unanimously elected him to succeed Nancy Pelosi as their leader, making him the first African American to lead a party in either chamber of the United States Congress. As of 2026, Jeffries leads the House Democratic opposition, navigating the caucus through a period of Republican control of the House during the presidency of Donald Trump.

Early Life

Hakeem Sekou Jeffries was born on August 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York City. He was raised in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, a diverse and historically significant area of New York City. His family has roots in the broader New York City community; his uncle is Leonard Jeffries, a controversial professor of African-American studies at the City College of New York, and his brother is Hasan Kwame Jeffries, a historian and academic.

Jeffries grew up during a period of significant social and economic challenges in Brooklyn, including the crack epidemic and heightened racial tensions in Crown Heights. These experiences in one of New York City's most vibrant yet troubled neighborhoods shaped his understanding of urban policy, criminal justice, and the challenges facing communities of color. The Crown Heights area during the 1970s and 1980s was a microcosm of the broader struggles facing American cities, and Jeffries's upbringing there provided him with a firsthand perspective on issues of inequality and community resilience that would later inform his political career.

Both his state assembly district and his congressional district are anchored in Brooklyn, reflecting his deep and enduring connection to the borough where he was raised.

Education

Jeffries pursued higher education with a focus on law and public policy. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, where he graduated with honors. His legal education at NYU prepared him for a career first in corporate law and subsequently in public service. Before entering electoral politics, Jeffries worked as a corporate attorney, gaining experience in the private sector that would inform his approach to economic and regulatory policy in the legislature.

Career

New York State Assembly (2007–2012)

Jeffries began his career in elected office as a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 57th district. He succeeded Roger Green and served three terms from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2012. He was succeeded in the Assembly by Walter Mosley upon his departure to Congress.

During his time in the state legislature, Jeffries focused on issues of criminal justice reform and civil liberties. One of his notable legislative achievements was his work on legislation to end the New York City Police Department's practice of maintaining a database of individuals stopped under its stop-and-frisk program. Governor David Paterson signed the bill into law in July 2010, which deleted the database of names collected during stop-and-frisk encounters where no arrest or summons resulted. The legislation was supported by civil liberties advocates but drew opposition from Mayor Bloomberg and police officials who argued the database was a useful law enforcement tool.

Jeffries's record in the Assembly established him as a reform-minded legislator focused on criminal justice and civil rights, positions that helped build his profile as he sought higher office.

Election to Congress (2012)

In 2012, Jeffries ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 8th congressional district, following the retirement of longtime incumbent Edolphus Towns, whose district had been redrawn through redistricting. Jeffries won the Democratic primary, which in the heavily Democratic district was tantamount to election. He won the general election in November 2012, joining a class of new members that included Grace Meng from Queens. His victory marked the beginning of what would become a rapid ascent through the ranks of the House Democratic leadership.

U.S. House of Representatives

Legislative Work

Upon entering Congress in January 2013, Jeffries represented New York's 8th congressional district, a constituency anchored in Brooklyn that also includes parts of Queens. He quickly established himself as an active legislator focused on criminal justice reform, economic policy, and urban issues.

In 2013, Jeffries introduced the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act (H.R. 1501), which sought to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, for potential inclusion in the National Park System. The monument commemorates the more than 11,500 American Revolutionary War prisoners who died aboard British prison ships in Wallabout Bay during the American Revolution.

Jeffries was a vocal critic of Republican fiscal proposals. He publicly denounced what he characterized as a "callous Republican budget," arguing that such proposals would disproportionately harm working families and vulnerable populations.

In the 114th Congress, Jeffries continued his legislative activity. Among his proposals was H.R. 544, which addressed issues related to federal policy.

Following the tragic murder of two NYPD officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who were shot in their patrol car in Brooklyn in December 2014, Jeffries was among the public officials who responded to the crisis. The killings, which occurred in his congressional district, were a pivotal moment for the community and for discussions about policing and public safety in New York City. In 2015, President Barack Obama signed the Slain Officer Family Support Act, legislation that provided financial support to the families of fallen officers, which Jeffries supported.

Rise Through Democratic Leadership

Jeffries's trajectory within the House Democratic leadership was marked by a series of increasingly prominent roles. In January 2017, he was named co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, serving alongside Representatives Cheri Bustos and David Cicilline. In this role, he helped shape the party's messaging and policy agenda under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi. He succeeded Steve Israel, who had previously served as chair of the committee.

In January 2019, Jeffries was elected chair of the House Democratic Caucus, succeeding Joe Crowley, who had lost his primary election to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2018. As caucus chair, Jeffries served as the fifth-ranking Democrat in the House and played a central role in coordinating the party's legislative strategy and communications. He held this position through the end of the 117th Congress in January 2023, when he was succeeded by Pete Aguilar.

House Democratic Leader (2023–present)

In November 2022, following the announcement by Nancy Pelosi that she would step down from Democratic leadership after two decades, the members of the House Democratic Caucus unanimously elected Jeffries as their new leader. The election made Jeffries the first African American to lead a major party caucus in either chamber of the United States Congress, a milestone in American political history.

As House Minority Leader beginning in January 2023, Jeffries assumed the role with Katherine Clark serving as Democratic Whip. He succeeded Kevin McCarthy in the formal position of Minority Leader, though the two represented opposing parties and the transition reflected the Democratic Party's shift to the minority following the 2022 midterm elections.

Opposition to the Trump Administration (2025–present)

Following the return of Donald Trump to the presidency in January 2025, Jeffries has served as a leading figure of the Democratic opposition in the House. In this role, he has been vocal in his criticism of the administration's policies, particularly on economic matters. In February 2026, Jeffries appeared on multiple national news programs, including CNN and Fox News, to discuss issues such as government affordability, the economy, and a partial government shutdown affecting federal agencies. In a statement released by his office, Jeffries characterized the Trump presidency as "a failure," criticizing the administration's economic record and policy agenda.

Ahead of Trump's State of the Union Address in February 2026, Jeffries played a key role in shaping the Democratic response. He invited notable guests to the address, including a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking network and family members of Jesse Jackson. House Democratic leaders under Jeffries advocated for what was described as "silent defiance" during the address, preferring a stoic approach over outright disruption, though some members of the caucus favored more confrontational tactics such as boycotting the speech entirely.

As leader, Jeffries has also overseen the party's recruitment strategy for the 2026 midterm elections, with Democrats targeting districts that Trump won in an effort to recapture the House majority. The party's recruits have been drawn from a variety of working-class backgrounds, including farmers and ministers, as part of an effort to broaden the Democratic coalition in competitive districts.

Personal Life

Jeffries and his wife have two children. He resides in Brooklyn, the borough where he was raised and which forms the core of his congressional district. His brother, Hasan Kwame Jeffries, is a historian and associate professor at Ohio State University who specializes in African American history and the civil rights movement. His uncle, Leonard Jeffries, is a professor emeritus of African-American studies at the City College of New York who became a controversial figure in the 1990s for inflammatory public remarks.

Jeffries has maintained a connection to the Crown Heights community where he grew up, and his political career has been defined in part by his deep roots in Brooklyn. Both his Assembly district and his congressional district are centered in the borough.

Recognition

In 2006, before entering elected office, Jeffries was named to the Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes emerging leaders in the New York City business and civic community. The recognition reflected his rising profile as a corporate attorney and civic figure in Brooklyn.

His election as House Democratic Leader in November 2022 was itself a historic achievement, making him the first African American to lead a major party caucus in either chamber of Congress. The milestone was noted by national media outlets and political observers as a significant moment in the history of the institution.

During his time in Congress, Jeffries has been profiled by numerous national publications. OZY described him as "Brooklyn's Barack" in a profile that examined his political rise and his potential as a future leader of the Democratic Party.

Legacy

As of 2026, Jeffries's legacy continues to develop as he leads House Democrats through a period of minority status during the second Trump presidency. His elevation to the top leadership position in the House Democratic Caucus represented a generational shift within the party, as he succeeded Pelosi and a generation of leaders who had dominated House Democratic politics for decades.

Jeffries's historic role as the first African American to lead a party in either chamber of Congress places him in a select group of political figures who have broken barriers in American government. His leadership of the caucus during a contentious political period, including debates over government shutdowns, economic policy, and the party's strategic direction, has defined the early phase of his tenure as Democratic leader.

His career trajectory—from Crown Heights to the New York State Assembly to the leadership of the House Democratic Caucus—reflects a path rooted in community engagement, legal training, and progressive policy advocacy. Whether Democrats succeed in their efforts to recapture the House majority in 2026 will be a significant measure of Jeffries's effectiveness as leader and will shape assessments of his broader impact on American politics.