Hakeem Jeffries poised to become House Speaker
The gist
Democrats are projected to retake the U.S. House, putting Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in line to become the first Black speaker.
He still needs a formal House vote and support from skeptical progressives.
How it unfolded
- Jul 4, 2025Steep spending cuts to Medicaid, the healthcare program for the poor and people with disabilities, were enacted into law.
- Sep 30, 2026In a Vanity Fair interview, Representative-elect Darializa Avila Chevalier would not commit to voting for Jeffries and listed policies the next speaker must support.
- Nov 3, 2026Democrats were projected to regain control of the U.S. House in the midterm elections; Jeffries spoke at a DCCC election night watch party in Washington, DC.