As the House began voting Tuesday on who will be the next speaker, California Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar offered a rousing nomination speech for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. “Today, House Democrats are UNITED!” Aguilar began, and the Democrats burst into applause.
Aguilar launched into his speech with all the accolades for the work that Jeffries has done representing New York’s 8th Congressional District, Brooklyn, and Queens since his election in 2013.
In 2022, Jeffries was elected the first Black House Minority Leader, making him the first Black person in history to lead in either the Democratic or the Republican chambers of Congress.
RELATED STORY: Can Kevin McCarthy be any more gutless? Yes, he can ‘forget’ what he said to Trump on Jan. 6
But the Democratic congressman from California wasted no time contrasting Jeffries with former President Donald Trump and Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who is desperately hoping to get enough votes to become House speaker.
"He [Jeffries] does not traffic in extremism,” Aguilar said to the cheering House. “He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice-impeached former president. […] He does not bend the knee to anyone who would seek to undermine our democracy,” Aguilar said.
He added, “He understands what great leaders of this House understand: That this body and this institution are best-equipped to serve the needs of this democracy and the beautiful mosaic of the members it sends.”
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Jeffries, 52, has been called the “Brooklyn Obama.” Aguilar said during his speech Tuesday: “Hakeem’s leadership style is simple: ‘Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.’”
In 2019, Jeffries told The New York Times, “There is and will only ever be one Barack Obama, who was a phenomenal president. The only thing I can definitely say we have in common is that we were both born on Aug. 4.”
Spencer Overton, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and professor at George Washington University’s Law School, says of Jeffries, “Like President Obama, the image of Hakeem Jeffries, leader, could represent to some that they are losing what they think is their country—as opposed to our, in the collective sense—country.”
During his speech, Aguilar told the story of Jeffries growing up in “the first home” their parents bought in Brooklyn, where they live today. He talked about his mother telling him that no matter what he did with his life, it “must be in the service of people.”
Aguilar said that Jeffries’ role will be guided by the “faith and wisdom of leaders like Jim Clyburn, Greg Meeks, John Lewis, Steny Hoyer, and Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi.” To which the House Democrats stood and cheered for retiring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“It is shaped by that guidance that we are prepared to nominate a leader that will open a door to the new generation of leadership. [...] A Latino is nominating for leader of this chamber a Black man for the first time in our history. [...] That’s progress, and its progress the country wants to continue for this Congress and for our country.”
Aguilar launched into his speech with all the accolades for the work that Jeffries has done representing New York’s 8th Congressional District, Brooklyn, and Queens since his election in 2013.
In 2022, Jeffries was elected the first Black House Minority Leader, making him the first Black person in history to lead in either the Democratic or the Republican chambers of Congress.
RELATED STORY: Can Kevin McCarthy be any more gutless? Yes, he can ‘forget’ what he said to Trump on Jan. 6
But the Democratic congressman from California wasted no time contrasting Jeffries with former President Donald Trump and Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who is desperately hoping to get enough votes to become House speaker.
"He [Jeffries] does not traffic in extremism,” Aguilar said to the cheering House. “He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice-impeached former president. […] He does not bend the knee to anyone who would seek to undermine our democracy,” Aguilar said.
He added, “He understands what great leaders of this House understand: That this body and this institution are best-equipped to serve the needs of this democracy and the beautiful mosaic of the members it sends.”
See why this speech became an instant classic!
YouTube Video
Campaign Action
Jeffries, 52, has been called the “Brooklyn Obama.” Aguilar said during his speech Tuesday: “Hakeem’s leadership style is simple: ‘Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.’”
In 2019, Jeffries told The New York Times, “There is and will only ever be one Barack Obama, who was a phenomenal president. The only thing I can definitely say we have in common is that we were both born on Aug. 4.”
Spencer Overton, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and professor at George Washington University’s Law School, says of Jeffries, “Like President Obama, the image of Hakeem Jeffries, leader, could represent to some that they are losing what they think is their country—as opposed to our, in the collective sense—country.”
During his speech, Aguilar told the story of Jeffries growing up in “the first home” their parents bought in Brooklyn, where they live today. He talked about his mother telling him that no matter what he did with his life, it “must be in the service of people.”
Aguilar said that Jeffries’ role will be guided by the “faith and wisdom of leaders like Jim Clyburn, Greg Meeks, John Lewis, Steny Hoyer, and Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi.” To which the House Democrats stood and cheered for retiring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“It is shaped by that guidance that we are prepared to nominate a leader that will open a door to the new generation of leadership. [...] A Latino is nominating for leader of this chamber a Black man for the first time in our history. [...] That’s progress, and its progress the country wants to continue for this Congress and for our country.”