U.S. House Democrats ushered in a new generation of leaders on Wednesday with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries elected to be the first Black American to head a major political party in Congress as long-serving Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team step aside next year.
Showing rare party unity after their midterm election losses, the House Democrats moved seamlessly from one history-making leader to another, choosing the 52-year-old New Yorker, who has vowed to "get things done," even after Republicans won control of the chamber. The closed-door vote was unanimous, by acclamation.
"It's a solemn responsibility that we are all inheriting," Jeffries told reporters on the eve of the party meeting. "And the best thing that we can do as a result of the seriousness and solemnity of the moment is lean in hard and do the best damn job that we can for the people."
On the other side of the aisle, Republican Kevin McCarthy won a leadership vote earlier this month but saw 31 of his party colleagues vote against him. He'll have a chance to become the next Speaker with a majority vote when the House convenes in January.
Wednesday's internal Democratic caucus votes of Jeffries and the other top leaders came without challengers.
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