WASHINGTON — House Democrats tapped Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York on Wednesday to lead them in the next Congress, and elected California Rep. Pete Aguilar of California as House Democratic Caucus chair.
The historic selection of Jeffries as the incoming minority leader means he will replace Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, in January as the highest-ranking African American member of the House and become the first Black lawmaker to lead either party in the chamber.
In addition to Aguilar, Jeffries will be joined in the top tier of Democratic leadership by Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts as minority whip.