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House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become the first Black speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after Democrats won control of the chamber in Tuesday's midterm elections, pledging to lower living costs and bring "accountability" to the Trump administration.
"Today begins the great American comeback," Jeffries told supporters in Washington.
"The American people have spoken and made clear that they’ve had enough of the extremism, enough of the corruption," he added.
The new majority will be sworn in early January.
Newly elected House Democrats will meet later this month to choose their speaker candidate, and no one is seen seriously challenging Jeffries, Democratic aides told Reuters.
"We will fight hard to lower the high cost of housing and groceries and gas," Jeffries said, vowing to "fight to reverse these painful Medicaid cuts."
Jeffries has promised a legislative push in the House’s first 100 hours focused on affordability, including restoring expired Affordable Care Act subsidies, reversing Medicaid cuts, rolling back tariffs and pressing for an end to the Iran war.
"This is not a partisan moment. This is a patriotic one," he said.
Democrats are also signaling investigations. Rep. Robert Garcia, expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, posted "LAWYER UP," while Sen. Ron Wyden wrote a single word: "Subpoenas."
Jeffries has stopped short of saying the House would attempt to impeach Trump for a third time.
He also faces the challenge of uniting moderates and progressives, some of whom have not committed to backing him. Trump retains his veto, and most Senate legislation must clear a 60-vote hurdle. Overriding a veto requires two-thirds of both chambers.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to run for minority leader after Republicans lost control of the Senate.
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia’s governorship, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state. Rep. Chris Pappas will become the first openly gay man in the Senate after winning in New Hampshire, and Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor in New Mexico.
Gina Hinojosa became Texas’s first Latina governor. Hakeem Jeffries would add another first when the new Congress convenes in January.
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