Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries Set to Become First Black Speaker of US House

US politics is on the verge of entering a new chapter, with senior Democratic Party leader Hakeem Jeffries poised to become the first Black Speaker in the history of the House of Representatives. His expected elevation would mark a historic change in one of the highest offices in the US legislature. The new Democratic-controlled Congress is scheduled to convene on January 3. Jeffries is widely expected to be formally nominated and elected Speaker through a vote by Democratic lawmakers during the session. If elected, he would become the first Black lawmaker in US history to wield the Speaker’s prestigious gavel. Under the US Constitution, the Speaker stands third in the presidential line of succession, after the president and vice-president. The speakership is also the only congressional leadership position explicitly established by the Constitution. Analysts say Jeffries’ potential elevation would therefore carry considerable significance and have far-reaching implications for American politics.