House Democrats elect a new generation of leaders

By Scott Wong and Ali Vitali -

WASHINGTON — House Democrats will choose their new leadership team Wednesday morning, ushering in a younger generation of leaders after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer decided walk away after Democrats narrowly lost their majority this month.

Pelosi, an 82-year-old Californian, the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, will pass the torch to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a 52-year-old Democrat from New York, who is running unopposed for minority leader and will make history as the first black legislator who leads the caucus of a political party in either chamber.

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“This is a time of transition,” Jeffries told a small group of reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday night.

“We stand on the shoulders of giants, but we also hope that we can do what is necessary at this time to advance the issues,” he added.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Jeffries' main surrogate will be Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Massachusetts, 59, a progressive who served under Jeffries as vice chair of the Democratic Caucus and rose to deputy speaker in this Congress.

She is running unopposed for the position of minority leader, the most important in the party.

Rounding out the trio of new leaders is Rep. Pete Aguilar, a 43-year-old Democrat from California, member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and former mayor, who is running unopposed for the presidency of the Democratic Caucus, a role Jeffries has held for the past four years. .

The choice of Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar represents a changing of the guard for House Democrats, who have seen the powerful triumvirate of Pelosi, 83-year-old Hoyer, D-Md., and Jim Clyburn, D-South Carolina, , 82, have held top leadership positions for the past two decades.

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In recent years, equally ambitious and talented younger Democrats looking to move up the leadership ladder found they had no choice but to go outside.

Democratic caucus chairman Xavier Becerra accepted an appointment as California attorney general and was later appointed by President Joe Biden as secretary of Health and Human Services.

Two of Pelosi's loyal aides in leadership, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, successfully ran for a Senate seat after their options had run out.

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Others, like New York's Steve Israel, who led the Democrats' campaign arm in the House of Representatives and the communications department, opted for retirement.

Of the current "big three" Democrats, only Clyburn, the current Majority Leader, has chosen to remain in the leadership of the new Congress.

He will fill the "deputy leader" position, which has been considered the No. 3 minority position in the past, but will move to No. 4 in this Congress.

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Clyburn's decision to stay has frustrated some younger members, who had hoped the new Congress would start with a clean slate.

Because of Clyburn's endorsement by the Congressional Black Caucus and other allies, it means one of the younger lawmakers won't be able to rise to the No. 4 spot.

But Pelosi has pointed out many times that power is not given freely, but must be "harnessed" to get it.

And no one in the caucus challenged Clyburn.

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Both Pelosi and Hoyer won't go far.

Instead of resigning, the two said they would remain in Congress.

And on Tuesday night, the House Democratic Policy and Direction Committee voted unanimously to grant Pelosi the ceremonial title of

.

The resolution awarding the honor to Pelosi was offered by Jeffries. 

“Chairperson Nancy Pelosi will go down in history as one of the greatest legislative leaders in American history,” said Steering Committee co-chairs Eric Swalwell, Barbara Lee and Cheri Bustos.

"By awarding her this honorary title, we proudly celebrate her marbling and her legendary public service," they added.

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Asked about the difference between his leadership style and that of Pelosi - a shrewd lawmaker who ruled her caucus with an iron fist at times - Jeffries seemed to take a team view.

“The House Democratic caucus is at its best when everyone has a chance to be on the field, playing the right position,” he said.

Jeffries dodged several questions about what it meant to him to be the first black person to lead either party in Congress.

“I haven't had a chance to reflect on it,” he said, later adding that “to the extent that I spent some time reflecting on the external narratives or the magnitude of the moment, it would take me away from having to make decisions in real time while we prepare to organize the new Congress”.