Democrats look to Hakeem Jeffries, “The Ultimate New York Point Guard,” to Call the Plays

Story by Gerren Keith Gaynor
thegrio.com

If Democrats win a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Jeffries becomes “the most significant Democrat in the country with any power,” says Democratic strategist Joel Payne.

As Democrats continue licking their wounds after the stunning defeat of Kamala Harris by President-elect Donald Trump, all eyes are on Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), whose party in Congress has a slim chance of regaining a majority in the House of Representatives.
If Democrats can win the House, it would give the party its only hope of slowing Trump’s agenda from being enacted.

Jeffries, a 54-year-old congressman from Brooklyn, New York, would also become House speaker, making history as the first African-American to hold the position, which is only two degrees of separation in the line of presidential succession.

“It would be very significant,” Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., told theGrio. The 84-year-old congressman noted that there is a “very critical role” in “our government process for the opposition.”
As Donald Trump begins to name cabinet members of his second administration who will be tasked with carrying out his agenda — which includes proposed mass deportations, the elimination of racial equity programs, and massive cuts to federal spending — Democrats’ ability to play defense will be critical to softening what they see as potentially critical blows to vulnerable communities.

Democratic strategist Joel Payne told theGrio that Democrats are in “harm-reduction mode,” telling theGrio, “It’s clear that having some share of power in government would be a very critical way to do that and to kind of stop the worst of Donald Trump and MAGA’s impulses.”

While Vice President Harris vowed to “never give up” her fight to protect freedoms after conceding the presidential contest to Trump, Harris, along with President Joe Biden, will be leaving office on Jan. 20, 2025. That leaves Congress as the only procedural way for Democrats to combat the MAGA agenda.

Democrats see Jeffries, the current House minority leader, as a critical leader for the party, particularly if his caucus can gain a majority. This would come with control of committees — which includes significant subpoena powers — and shaping the federal budget. At the very least, it would allow Democrats to compel Republicans to make concessions where possible.

“The House will be the first and the front line of defense. But also, it will be the one tenet, if you will, within the Democratic Party that could demonstrate offense,” said Antjuan Seawright, political advisor to Jeffries and CEO of Blueprint Strategies LLC. “I think both of those things are important: our offense and our defense,” the Democratic strategist told theGrio. “That’s the critical role the House would play if the people’s will is for us to be in the majority.”

As a six-term congressman known for having a way with his words, Jeffries is a well-respected and admired politician within the Democratic Party.

“He is the ultimate New York point guard, and he knows how to have on-court discipline,” Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands told theGrio. “He knows how to call the plays. He knows how to bring the ball down the court. He’s got the handle, he’s got the style, he’s got the dribble, and he knows how to bring it inside and put those points up on the board. And that’s what we’re going do.”