Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, long considered a frontrunner to replace House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, may have his moment as minority leader if Democrats lose control of the chamber and Pelosi steps down, insiders told The Post.
Jeffries, 52, who lives in Prospect Heights and represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens, is the fifth-ranking Democrat in Congress as caucus chair and has made it known he wants to move up.
“He’s been itching for that role as long as he could itch,” said one Capitol Hill insider, who noted Jeffries has been having ongoing conversations with fellow Dems about running for leader.
“Hakeem will profess his close association with Nancy,” the source said. “She has put him in leadership so there’s a relationship there. I know she doesn’t want to necessarily pick someone. She sort of wants an organic process to play out.
[It’s a better play than Adam Schiff, who’s also expected to contend for the post. And it’s a better choice than anyone in the existing gerontocracy around Pelosi. But I suspect that Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn will move up, and Jeffries gets the #3 position. — Ed]
Join the conversation as a VIP Member