Who is Hakeem Jeffries?
Hakeem Jeffries was born in Brooklyn in 1970 and raised in Crown Heights. He studied at Binghamton University, Georgetown University and New York University School of Law, then worked as a federal law clerk and corporate litigator. He served in the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2012 and has represented New York's 8th congressional district since 2013. He chaired the House Democratic Caucus from 2019 to 2023 and was elected House Democratic Leader in 2022 and again in 2024. In July 2026 he launched the Fighting for an Affordable America agenda ahead of the November 2026 midterms, in which Democrats seek a House majority.
Previously: US Representative for New York's 8th congressional district (since January 2013) · Chair, House Democratic Caucus (2019-2023) · House impeachment manager in the first Senate trial of President Trump (2020) · Member, New York State Assembly (2007-2012)
Documented positions
- Led House passage on 8 January 2026, after a discharge petition, of a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.Source: jeffries.house.gov
- Pledged in October 2026 to reverse Medicaid cuts, extend ACA tax credits and end President Trump's tariffs by reclaiming congressional authority over them.Source: democraticleader.house.gov
- Supports expanding the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to build more affordable housing.Source: democraticleader.house.gov
- Says House Democrats will not fund mass deportations and backs judicial warrants, body cameras and an end to face coverings for ICE agents.Source: democraticleader.house.gov
- Calls for ending the war with Iran and for a renewed US commitment to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.Source: democraticleader.house.gov
- Was the lead Democratic sponsor of the FIRST STEP Act on federal sentencing and prison reform, and supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.Source: jeffries.house.gov
- Launched the Fighting for an Affordable America agenda in July 2026, focused on reversing health care cuts, lowering living costs and ending the war with Iran.Source: wtop.com
- Marked three years since the Dobbs decision in June 2025 by backing the Women's Health Protection Act to restore abortion rights nationally.Source: democraticleader.house.gov
Record
As minority leader, Jeffries has led House Democrats against the Republican majority's 2025 tax and spending law, speaking for 8 hours and 44 minutes on the House floor in July 2025, the longest House floor speech on record. During the 43-day federal shutdown in late 2025, Democrats demanded an extension of expiring ACA tax credits, and a discharge petition led to House passage of a three-year extension, 230 to 196, in January 2026. Supporters cite his ability to keep his caucus united across progressive and moderate wings. Some progressives in New York have criticised him as too moderate, and in the June 2026 primaries two New York incumbents he backed, including Representative Adriano Espaillat, lost to challengers. Republicans describe his agenda as a return to higher spending.
In their words
“We're going to fight to end this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran”
