[86], As the Congressional Black Caucus whip, he has been actively involved in maintaining the CBC's historic role as "the conscience of the Congress". He introduced legislation calling for a federal ban on the police use of choke holds following the death of an unarmed Black man, Eric Garner, in July 2014. The New York Times. Kennisandra Arciniegas-Jeffries, a social worker with the 1199 SEIU Benefit Fund, is Jeffries wife. 3229 (Public Law No. Before his election to Congress in 2012, Jeffries served three terms in the New York State Assembly, representing the 57th district, and worked as a corporate lawyer. He belongs to an African-American ethnic background. His mothers name is Laneda Jeffries. Jeffries is a married man. Hakeem Jeffries is a U.S. Representative for New York's 8th Congressional District and is also one of the House Managers in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. Jeffries attended Binghamton University for undergrad, before pursuing a masters in public policy Georgetown University and then a law degree from New York University. Hakeem Jeffries is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (2013- ). 3979, Public Law No. U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from Brooklyn, sat down with The Wall Street Journal at the Marriott in Downtown Brooklyn to talk about his family ties. He has fought hard to assist state and local governments whose budgets have been devastated by the virus, pushed for an extension of the emergency unemployment benefit and supported efforts to keep everyday Americans in their homes. After the Democratic nomination went to Davis's surviving brother Geoffrey, who was mired in a domestic violence scandal, Jeffries was considered for the Working Families Party nomination, but he did not put his name forward for consideration. *75% African-American Kennisandra Arciniegas-Jeffries works with a non-benefit willful association . [8][9] He grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and his heritage traces back to Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, and Cape Verde.[10][11]. [123] As the fifth highest-ranking House Democrat, he also recommended the Biden campaign take either California Representative Karen Bass or Florida Representative Val Demings as his running mate. Frederic Allard Children: Does Frederic Allard Have Children? Jeffries is also a proponent of gun control measures and of women's reproductive rights, condemning along with many other congressional Democrats the overturning of Roe v. Wade earlier this year. But when the election is over, we should all work together to get things done. 5108; 113th Congress), United States Patent and Trademark Office, Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, List of African-American United States representatives, "Hakeem Sekou Jeffries New York Bio, News, Photos", "Hakeem Jeffries Defeats Charles Barron in Bitter Democratic Primary - The Local Fort-Greene Blog - NYTimes.com", "New York Elections 2012: Gillibrand, Jeffries, Meng Declare Victory As Obama Wins Reelection", "Hakeem Jeffries Wins Contested House Democratic Caucus Chair Race", "Hakeem Jeffries defeats Barbara Lee in battle for Dem Caucus chair", "House Democrats Pick Hakeem Jeffries to Lead Party", "Live updates: Nancy Pelosi announces she will not run for leadership post", "Miss Francies Cephas Plans a June Wedding", "7 Things You Didn't Know about Hakeem Jeffries' Roots", "Brooklyn's Hakeem Jeffries poised to become House Democrats' leader", "Hakeem Jeffries, 35, Assistant general counsel", "In Brooklyn, New Insurgent Takes On an Old Challenger", "NY Assembly 57 D Primary Race Sep 12, 2000", "Rematch Produces Spirited Primary Race for Assembly Seat in Brooklyn", "How Hakeem Jeffries Was Gerrymandered Out of His Own District and Other True Tales", "How Hakeem Jeffries Became the Barack of Brooklyn", "NY Assembly 57 D Primary Race Sep 10, 2002", "NY Assembly 57- D Primary Race Sep 12, 2006", "Paterson Signs Law Restricting Stop-and-Frisk Database", "Gov. Davis had named Jeffries as a preferred replacement should he be elected to higher office. In that capacity, he is the highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives. 116-338) and to provide entrepreneurship counseling and training services to formerly incarcerated individuals (H.R. 995). Why are you such a hater? "[105], While Obama did not openly support candidates in Democratic primaries, he and President Bill Clinton together took a photograph with Jeffries weeks before his 2012 Congressional primary against Charles Barron, which was effectively used in campaign literature. The most promising area is Section 3. pic.twitter.com/RRUBIo28iJ, Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) November 24, 2022, A post shared by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (@repjeffries). [72] Since taking federal office, Jeffries has been called "a rising star". During his time at Binghamton he became a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. [106], In a 2012 special election, Jeffries endorsed Walter T. Mosley, who won a special election run to succeed Jeffries in the State Assembly. Rep. Jeffries is a lifelong Brooklynite. They have two sons named Joshua Jeffries and Jeremiah Jeffries. Born as Hakeem Sekou Jeffries to his parents, father Marland Jeffries, and mother Laneda Jeffries, Hakeem is 50 years old now. [52], Green Party candidate Colin Beavan called on Jeffries to "get the money out of politics", noting that as of his March 2012 filing, "he had received about $180,000, or 35 percent of his funds, from Wall Street bankers and their lawyers". Marland no longer walks among the living. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D, N.Y.) on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., February 8, 2019. 1508, Public Law No. In the 114th Congress, Rep. Jeffries teamed up with Congressman Peter King to pass the Slain Officer Family Support Act of 2015 (H.R. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Hakeem Jeffries after Pelosis exit Endorsed to lead House Democrats. The Congressman also sponsored and passed as part of the National Defense Authorization package the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument Preservation Act, which directs the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the Prison Ship Martyrs mausoleum in Brooklyn as a national monument. His father died on March 28, 1954. 3370 (Public Law No. Who is Hakeem Jeffries? Everything you need to know about him The Senate impeachment trial was held in early 2020. His mother was a social worker while his father worked as a state substance-abuse counselor. His campaign websites lists lowering childcare and health care costs, as well as the cost of education and prescription drugs as top priorities. House Democrats are now led by a new trio - the 52-year-old Mr Jeffries as the minority leader, Katherine Clark, 59, of Massachusetts as the Democratic whip, and Pete Aguilar, 43, of California. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act for the second time through the House. Hakeem Jeffries Net Worth 2021, Bio, Wife, Height, Parents - Bioagewho Hakeem's father's name is Marland Jeffries and his mother's name is Laneda Jeffries. Hakeem Jeffries Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family He introduced P.J. In that capacity, he authored laws to protect the civil liberties of law-abiding New Yorkers during police encounters, encourage the transformation of vacant luxury condominiums into affordable homes for working families and improve the quality of justice in the civil court system. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. American lawyer and politician Hakeem Sekou Jeffries has represented New Yorks 8th congressional district since 2013. The House Impeachment Managers established with a mountain of evidence that crimes against the Constitution were committed. He was twice reelected to that body. Subscribe to our e-newsletter that provides updates
While his core viewpoints are in line with a lot of progressive thinking, he has said he doesn't believe in sacrificing everything for a legislative wish list when it might be out of reach. . Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) was elected House Democratic leader in November, the first Black lawmaker to lead a congressional conference in the United States and the first new leader . Jeffries was raised in Brooklyn, New York, attended the State University of New York at Binghamton to study political science, and Georgetown University awarded him a masters degree in public policy. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Talks About Family Ties, Politics - WSJ On January 3, 2019, Hakeem Jeffries was chosen to lead the House Democratic Caucus. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He denounced discriminatory social distance policing that targeted communities of color and helped bring about a change in policy. Jeffries is the eldest of two sons born to Laneda (Gomes) Jeffries, a social worker . Chaos hit the House floor Tuesday when Republicans, who won a majority during the midterm elections, failed to unanimously elect a speaker. Hakeem spent most of his childhood in New York, as he grew up in Brooklyn Heights. Who Is Hakeem Jeffries? Brooklyn Democrat May Succeed Nancy Pelosi The officials called Barron antisemitic and denounced his allegedly antisemitic statements, while also denouncing his support of Zimbabwe ruler Robert Mugabe and former Libya ruler Muammar Gaddafi. [128], In 2023, Jeffries spoke in support of New York Governor Kathy Hochul's nomination of Hector LaSalle as chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals, calling him "highly qualified to serve as the chief judge. [101], Jeffries is a firm supporter of Israel's right to exist but not necessarily Israel's policies[102] though described as "one the most pro-Israel Democrats in the House"[103]. His colleagues chose him for the position in November 2018. Towns Retirement Signals Power Shift in Brooklyn", "NYC's Towns retiring after 30 years in Congress", "New York politicians go to town on House bid", "Hakeem Jeffries Opens Congressional Exploratory Committee", "Politicians Gather To Denounce Charles Barron As An 'Anti-Semite' And 'Enemy of the State of Israel', Charles Barron Dismisses 'Anti-Semitic' Press Conference As A 'Distraction'. Omissions? Additionally, Rep. Jeffries authored H.R. Pro-Israel groups donated nearly half a million dollars to Jeffries's 2022 campaign, second only to donations from the financial industry. [13], After graduating from law school, Jeffries spent one year as a law clerk for Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Securing broad support, Jeffries easily won the race to represent New Yorks 8th congressional district, which includes parts of Brooklyn and the neighbouring borough of Queens. His wife works as a social worker for the 1199 SEIU Benefit Fund. Hakeem Jeffries says Dems will have 'game plan' to counter Tucker [94][95] Jeffries voted to impeach President Donald Trump during both his first and second impeachments in the House. Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (/hkim/; born August 4, 1970)[1] is an American politician and attorney who has been House Minority Leader and leader of the House Democratic Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023. ", before walking out of the studio, later accusing Jeffries of playing "the religion card". Hakeem Jeffries is 52 years old. In a once-in-a-century political snafu, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy fell short of the 218 votes he needed to secure the speakership, stymied by a group of hard-right representatives in his party. House Democrats on Wednesday elected the New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries as their new leader, making him the first Black American to lead a major political party in Congress after Nancy . [28][29], After the July 23, 2003, murder of Jeffries's close friend and political ally, James Davis, Jeffries was considered a potential successor to Davis on the New York City Council. Pelosi subsequently announced that she would step down from the House Democratic leadership and that she would not pursue the role of minority leader in the new Congress. Jeffries is also a champion of criminal justice reform, having worked on legislation aimed at correcting sentencing disparities for crack versus powder cocaine and introducing the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention in 2015, then later again in 2021 as part of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Jeffries is in his sixth House term, having represented New York's 8th congressional district, anchored in southern and eastern Brooklyn, since 2013. He has worked hard to help residents recover from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, reform our criminal justice system, improve the economy for everyday Americans and protect our healthcare from right-wing attacks. Amid the chaos of GOP leader Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker, Jeffries has remained the unanimous choice of the Democrats, receiving all 218 of the caucus' votes in each of seven rounds. pic.twitter.com/hMLoWo1FSc, Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) May 11, 2022. Hakeem Jeffries, whose full name is Hakeem Sekou Jeffries, is an American Democrat born on August 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York. In 2019, he voted in favor of the Equality Act and urged Congress members to do the same. [22], During post-census redistricting, Jeffries's home was drawn one block outside of Green's Assembly district. Consisting of a 100-foot-wide granite staircase and a central Doric column 149 feet in height, the monument in Fort Greene Park houses the remains of 11,500 Revolutionary War soldiers who were kept as prisoners of war by the British. Congressman Jeffries obtained his bachelors degree in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he graduated with honors for outstanding academic achievement. [96] He repeatedly called Trump's presidency "illegitimate" due to the Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election. Web: www.ghgossip.com, About Us Contact Advertise Privacy Policy. 2426, Public Law No. Who Is Hakeem Jeffries? Bio, Career, Personal Life & More Jeffries has become a high-profile critic of de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, questioning whether the reduction in stop-and-frisk has been a product of mayoral administration changes or the results of a movement that brought a successful federal lawsuit, and criticizing Garner's chokehold death. Hakeem Jeffries's father's name is Marland Jeffries, and his mother's name is Laneda Jeffries. Corrections? Hakeem's father died on 28 March 1954 and was buried in Mount Union Cemetery in Mount Union, Pennsylvania, United States of America. He has a brother named Hasan Kwame Jeffries. About - Congressman Hakeem Jeffries - House He got married to Kennisandra Jeffries. But with Jeffries assembling "a broad coalition of support"[46] and having more cash than the incumbent, Towns announced his retirement on April 16, leaving Jeffries to face city councilman Charles Barron in the Democratic primary. Additionally, Jeffries is a part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group that leans left. Ahntastic Adventures in Silicon Valley Now that he has secured the top spot in the House, both Democratic leaders will hail from Brooklyn. He was chosen as the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus in 2018, moving him up to the fifth-highest Democrat position in the legislature. The 52-year-old New Yorker has vowed to "get things done," even after Republicans won control of the chamber. Nancy Pelosi News: Pelosi is still in the House, but staying out of the congressional kitchen. Hello Everyone, I'm Akash Kumar from Jaipur, Rajasthan, India and I work as a Content Writer in a Digital Marketing company named Beetle Dynamics. Jeffries officially became the House minority leader on January 3, 2023. Jeffries said, "we can download the power of the federal government into neighborhoods that are struggling the most, without legislative action. These measures touched on diverse subject matters and were drafted with the intention of making meaningful improvements to our federal laws and programs. [26] Jeffries was later forced to admit that a political club he had founded, Brooklyn Freedom Democratic Association, had been behind three anonymous mail pieces sent during the last week of the election, two of which attacked Green for inaction as a legislator, and a third of which falsely implied that presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee Carl McCall supported Jeffries when he had in fact endorsed Green. He was integral in helping the Democratic party to craft a campaign message around 'dollar and cents' issues ahead of the 2022 midterms. Jeffries, who has been in Congress since 2013, is being portrayed by some in the media "as a capable operator inside the conference with sharp media skills to sell a Democratic message to the public," though he may get pushback from "Squad" types in the House who reportedly have "labeled him a centrist." Jeffries, who was elected in 2013, has already been endorsed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, both of whom have also announced plans to resign. [35][36][37] In the general election, he handily defeated Republican nominee Henry Weinstein. During the nearly three-week trial, Congressman Jeffries argued that President Trump should be removed from office for abusing his power by pressuring a foreign government, Ukraine, to target an American citizen as part of a corrupt scheme to interfere in the 2020 election. [56] The Daily News also analyzed Jeffries's donations in the last weeks of the campaign and found almost 50% came from out of state. 2471, Public Law No. In 2010, Governor David Paterson signed the Stop-and-Frisk database bill that banned police from compiling names and addresses of those stopped but not arrested during street searches. Born as Hakeem Sekou Jeffries to his parents, father Marland Jeffries, and mother Laneda Jeffries, Hakeem is 50 years old now. [42] Jeffries wrote and sponsored that law. He was buried in Mount Union Cemetery in Mount Union, Pennsylvania, USA. Who Is Hakeem Jeffries? The Democratic Nominee for House Speaker - The Hakeem Jeffries Bio, Age, Career, Net Worth, Wife, Body Measurements He is the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress. He has presided over the House Democratic Caucus since 2019. He was buried in Mount Union Cemetery in Mount Union, Pennsylvania, USA. The 52-year-old attorney who graduated with a JD in 1997 from the New York University School of Law, is a member of the Democratic Party. House Democrats are shaping a strategy to push back against the public broadcast of Jan. 6 surveillance footage recently provided by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R . Hakeem Jeffries: The man who'll succeed Nancy Pelosi. Hakeem Jeffries is currently 52 years old and was born on August 4th, 1970, making him a baby boomer. Hakeem Jeffries is an American politician. His mother was in the public service sector, having worked as a social worker, while his father was a counselor.. Passage of this bill was part of a bipartisan, bicameral effort to ensure Americans can visit, explore and study wildlife and experience our nations vast natural beauty for generations to come. Rep. Jeffries also played a key role in the House passage of the historic Music Modernization Act (MMA) (H.R. Hakeem Jeffries: What to expect from the man who'll replace Nancy In 2019 Jeffries became chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, a post that made him the fifth highest-ranking Democrat in the chamber. Hakeem Jeffries Parents: Meet Marland Jeffries And Laneda Jeffries In this piece, you will know all about the parent of Hakeem Jeffries. He was born on August 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. His birth name is Hakeem Sekou Jeffries. meredith baxter father knows best. He is also the former Chair of the Democratic Caucus, Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus and previously co-chaired the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee where he helped develop the For The People agenda. [47][48][49][50], On June 11, 2012, former Mayor Ed Koch, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Councilman David Greenfield, and Assemblyman Dov Hikind gathered with several other elected officials to support Jeffries and denounce Barron. The Republicans narrowly regained control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections. Tema, Ghana, Phone: +233 24 137 5919 "The Big Profile: Who Is Hakeem Jeffries? With the endorsement of outgoing Speaker Pelosi, Jeffries was elected unopposed as House Democratic Leader for the 118th Congress in November 2022, becoming the first African American person to lead a party caucus in either chamber of Congress. Jeffries was one of seven lawmakers named by Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosito serve as impeachment managers during the trial and present the Houses case against Trump. In Congress, Rep. Jeffries is a tireless advocate for social and economic justice. [51] Barron responded that such attacks were a distraction from bread-and-butter issues. In 2010, Rep. Jeffries successfully led the first meaningful legislative reform of the NYPDs aggressive and controversial stop-and-frisk program. Garner had died after having a choke hold applied to him during his arrest onStaten Island. Hakeem Jeffries Announces Historic Bid to Lead House Dems [27] Jeffries lost the primary, 52% to 38%. He passed away on March 28, 1954. Recommended Stories. ", "Family of Brooklyn boy, 6, stabbed to death in elevator files $281M suit against NYCHA for having no cameras", "Brooklyn Congressman Proposes Public Housing Security Legislation", "Exclusive: Congressman Hakeem Jeffries on the Failure of the House of Representatives to Pass an Unemployment Extension Bill", "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump", "Election denier Hakeem Jeffries could replace Pelosi as House Dem leader", "Democrats Poised to Make Election Denier New House Leader", "Rep. Hakeem Jeffries explains Brooklyn's progress", https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/29/hakeem-jeffries-house-nancy-pelosi-israel, https://www.timesofisrael.com/pro-israel-democrat-jeffries-elected-first-ever-black-house-minority-leader/, "Rep. 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The House minority leader from 2023, Jeffries is the first Black person to lead a major party in either house of Congress. In 1992, he earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in political science from Binghamton University. In the 116th Congress, Rep. Jeffries was similarly active in the legislative process, with many of his bills passing the House of Representatives and becoming law. [84] Jeffries has also called on the New York City Police Department Commissioner to reform its marijuana arrest policy[85] after reports showed that low-level marijuana arrests, which had increased dramatically under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration's application of stop-and-frisk, were still rising in New York City under Bloomberg's successor, Bill de Blasio. Please select which sections you would like to print: Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The law shortens sentences by ensuring inmates can earn the 54 days of good time credit per year Congress intended and applies the change retroactively, to the benefit of thousands of currently incarcerated mothers, fathers, daughters and sons.