Reflections on the House’s New Generation
By: Bradford Kimball
Nancy Pelosi was a sharp and effective Speaker of the House. She leaves behind a strong legacy of legislative accomplishment as the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives. Pelosi’s retirement signals the end of an era, though she has left the Democratic caucus in good hands. On November 17, the longtime House Democratic leader announced that she would step down from her role in the Democratic Party leadership. In the wake of her retirement, House Democrats elected Hakeem Jeffries (NY) as their leader. Alongside Pelosi, Jim Clyburn and Stenny Hoyer resigned as whip and chair of the Democratic Caucus, the second and third highest ranking positions in the Caucus. The caucus then elected Katherine Clark (MA) as the whip and Pete Aguilar as the chair of the Democratic Caucus, the third-highest ranking Democrat. The election of three new individuals in the top three positions in the Democratic caucus will move the Democratic Party’s legislative and political agenda forward.
On the surface, the new leaders bring a fresh face to the Democratic Party’s leadership. On average, the three new leaders are 31 years younger than Pelosi, Clyburn, and Stoyer. For a party that heavily relies on support from younger people, the move towards younger leadership allows the party to center itself around younger folks. While 22% of the country are millennials, only 12% of Congress are Millennials, so the shift towards a younger generation of leaders reflects on Democrats’ constituency. Pelosi, Clyburn, and Stoyer were gifted legislators who shepherded landmark legislation like Obamacare into law, but the time has come for a new generation of house leaders. Pelosi herself admitted this, saying that “the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus,” signaling that the passing of the torch benefits all parties involved. While the benefits of a new generation of House leaders are clear in representation and fresh ideas, the legislators chosen for these three roles are eminently qualified and will lead the caucus well.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the house floor announcing that she will be stepping down.
Hakeem Jeffries, the new Democratic leader, promises to be a pragmatic and careful legislator. He will inherit Pelosi’s mantle well. Early in his career, Jeffries worked to protect the privacy of men who had been stopped and frisked in New York City, and Jeffries also wrote a bill that passed the House that banned the use of chokeholds by police. It is also crucial to mention that Jeffries is the first black person to lead either party in Congress. As a trailblazer and a proven activist for criminal justice reform, Jeffries will lead the way to pursuing key Democratic policies. Just as important, Hakeem Jeffries is a tactician, choosing his words carefully and navigating competing interests. When margins are thin on the House floor in a crucial vote, the fate of the nation can rest in the persuasiveness of House leadership. Jeffries will rise to the occasion.
As a trailblazer and tactician with criminal justice and progressive bona fides, Jeffries promises to be a great Democratic House leader. Nancy Pelosi was one of the greatest legislative leaders of all time, corralling her caucus successfully to pass progressive legislation. With a focus on younger generations, tactical genius, and experienced fighting for justice, Jeffries has already inherited Nancy Pelosi’s mantle. And that’s no easy task.
