Career Timeline of Hakeem Jeffries: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Hakeem Jeffries made an impact.
Hakeem Jeffries is an American politician and attorney, currently serving as House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. He represents New York's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he has held since 2013. Prior to his congressional service, Jeffries was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2012. He is a prominent figure in the Democratic Party.
1998: Private Practice at Paul, Weiss
From 1998, Hakeem Jeffries was in private practice at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
2000: Challenged Roger Green in Democratic primary
In 2000, Jeffries challenged incumbent assemblyman Roger Green in the Democratic primary but lost.
2002: Lost primary election
Jeffries lost the 2002 primary election, 52% to 38%.
2004: Corporate Litigator for Viacom and CBS
In 2004, Hakeem Jeffries became a corporate litigator for television companies Viacom and CBS, working on matters such as the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy, while also serving as director of intergovernmental affairs and president of Black Attorneys for Progress.
2004: Green renominated unopposed
In 2004, after Sheldon Silver and Democratic leadership forced Green to resign after he pleaded guilty to billing the state for false travel expenses, Green was renominated unopposed.
2004: Unable to challenge Green in Democratic primary
Jeffries was unable to challenge Green in the 2004 Democratic primary after redistricting.
2006: Won Democratic primary and general election
In 2006, Jeffries won the Democratic primary for the 57th district and defeated Republican nominee Henry Weinstein in the general election.
2007: New York State Assembly Member
In 2007, Hakeem Jeffries became a member of the New York State Assembly.
2007: Elected to the New York State Assembly
In 2007, Hakeem Jeffries was elected to the New York State Assembly for a Brooklyn district.
2008: Reelected to the Assembly
In 2008, Jeffries was reelected to the Assembly, defeating Republican nominee Charles Brickhouse.
2010: Stop-and-Frisk Database Bill Signed
In 2010, Governor David Paterson signed a Stop-and-Frisk database bill sponsored by Jeffries and then-Senator Eric Adams, which banned police from compiling names and addresses of those stopped but not arrested during street searches.
2010: Reelected to a third term
In 2010, Jeffries was reelected to a third term in the Assembly, defeating Republican nominee Frank Voyticky.
January 2012: Announced run for U.S. House
In January 2012, Jeffries announced that he would give up his Assembly seat to run for the U.S. House from New York's 8th congressional district.
June 11, 2012: Received support from local leaders
On June 11, 2012, Jeffries's campaign was supported by a broad coalition of local leaders from across the district, including former mayor Ed Koch.
2012: End of Service in the New York State Assembly
In 2012, Hakeem Jeffries finished serving in the New York State Assembly.
2012: End of Assembly Service
In 2012, Hakeem Jeffries's service as a member of the New York State Assembly concluded.
January 3, 2013: Sworn into the 113th Congress
On January 3, 2013, Jeffries was sworn in to the 113th Congress.
April 11, 2013: Introduced Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act
On April 11, 2013, Jeffries introduced the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act, which would direct the secretary of the interior to study the feasibility of designating the monument in Brooklyn as a unit of the National Park System.
2013: U.S. Representative
In 2013, Hakeem Jeffries became the U.S. representative for New York's 8th congressional district.
April 28, 2014: Prison Ship Martyrs's Monument Preservation Act Passed by House
On April 28, 2014, the Prison Ship Martyrs's Monument Preservation Act was passed by the House.
July 15, 2014: Introduced Law School Clinic Certification Program Bill
On July 15, 2014, Jeffries introduced the bill to establish the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the USPTO, available to accredited law schools for ten years after enactment.
November 2014: Election as Congressional Black Caucus Whip
In November 2014, Hakeem Jeffries was elected as the Congressional Black Caucus whip.
December 2014: CBC protest of killings of African-Americans by police
In December 2014, Jeffries led Congressional Black Caucus members in a "hands up, don't shoot" protest of killings of African-Americans by police.
December 2014: Visit to Eric Garner killing site
In December 2014, Jeffries visited the Staten Island site where Eric Garner was killed and encountered Garner's mother, Gwen Carr.
2014: Reelected to the House
In 2014, Jeffries was reelected to the House without opposition.
April 1, 2015: Slain Officer Family Support Act Signed into Law
On April 1, 2015, President Obama signed the Slain Officer Family Support Act into law, extending the tax deadline for people making donations to organizations supporting the families of deceased NYPD detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.
April 2015: Introduction of the Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2015
In April 2015, Jeffries stood with Gwen Carr to announce the introduction of the Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2015, which would make chokeholds illegal under federal law.
June 2015: Led effort to remove the Confederate flag
In June 2015, after the shootings in Charleston, Jeffries led the effort to have the Confederate flag removed from sale or display on National Park Service land.
2015: Calls to Run for Mayor
In 2015, prominent African-American pastors called for Jeffries to run for mayor against de Blasio in the 2017 Democratic primary.
2016: Reelected to the House
In 2016, Jeffries faced no primary challenger and defeated a Conservative Party challenger to be reelected to the House.
May 22, 2018: House Passed the First Step Act
On May 22, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan First Step Act with Jeffries as a key sponsor.
November 28, 2018: Elected Chair of House Democratic Caucus
On November 28, 2018, Jeffries defeated Barbara Lee to become chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
December 21, 2018: First Step Act Signed into Law
On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed the First Step Act into law, which eased mandatory minimum federal sentences, expanded early releases, and ended some practices.
2018: Reelected to the House
In 2018, Jeffries faced no primary challenger and was reelected to the House.
2018: Music Modernization Act
In 2018, Jeffries played a key role in the House passage of the bipartisan Music Modernization Act, which became law.
January 3, 2019: Term as Caucus Chair Began
On January 3, 2019, Jeffries's term as chair of the House Democratic Caucus began, making him the fifth-ranking member of the Democratic leadership.
2019: Chaired the House Democratic Caucus
In 2019, Jeffries became chair of the House Democratic Caucus and held this position until 2023.
2019: Voted in favor of the Equality Act
In 2019, Jeffries voted in favor of the Equality Act and urged Congress members to do the same.
January 15, 2020: House Manager for Trump Impeachment Trial
On January 15, 2020, Jeffries was selected as one of seven House managers presenting the impeachment case against Trump.
2020: Reelected to the House
In 2020, Jeffries faced no primary challenger and was reelected to the House.
November 2022: Elected as House Leader
In November 2022, Hakeem Jeffries was unanimously elected to succeed Nancy Pelosi as House leader, becoming the first African American to lead a party in either chamber of the United States Congress.
November 2022: Elected House Democratic Leader
In November 2022, with Pelosi's endorsement, Jeffries was elected unopposed as House Democratic leader, becoming the first African American to lead a party caucus in either chamber of Congress.
2022: Reelected to the House
In 2022, Jeffries faced no notable primary challenger and was reelected to the House.
January 3, 2023: Nominated for Speaker of the House
On January 3, 2023, the House of Representatives began the nominating contest for Speaker. Jeffries was unanimously nominated by the Democratic caucus and received 212 votes on nearly every ballot.
May 29, 2023: Introduction of the Fiscal Responsibility Act
On May 29, 2023, Representative Patrick McHenry introduced the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
October 3, 2023: Motion to Vacate Speakership
On October 3, 2023, Representative Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the speakership criticizing McCarthy. Jeffries stated that House Democratic leaders would vote “yes” on the motion.
October 2023: Renominated for Speaker
In October 2023, House Democrats unanimously nominated Jeffries again for speaker after the motion to vacate McCarthy's speakership.
December 2023: Passed National Defense Authorization Act
In December 2023, Jeffries led the House Democratic Caucus in providing the majority of votes to pass the National Defense Authorization Act.
2023: House Minority Leader
In 2023, Hakeem Jeffries became the House minority leader and leader of the House Democratic Caucus.
2023: End of House Democratic Caucus Chairmanship
In 2023, Hakeem Jeffries ended his time as chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
2023: Fundraising for Democratic Candidates
In 2023, Jeffries raised $113 million for Democratic candidates and campaign committees, including $99 million for the DCCC.
January 7, 2024: $1.59 Trillion Spending Deal Agreed
On January 7, 2024, Jeffries and congressional leaders agreed to a $1.59 trillion topline spending deal.
February 2024: Special Election Strategy
In February 2024, Jeffries tapped Tom Suozzi for a special election after George Santos was expelled from Congress, deploying his team and raising $1 million for the campaign.
May 8, 2024: Motion to Vacate Johnson's Speakership
On May 8, 2024, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced a motion to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson's speakership, which Jeffries and Democratic leaders voted to table.
June 2024: Concerns raised about congestion pricing in New York City
In June 2024, Politico reported that New York governor Kathy Hochul indefinitely halted the implementation of congestion pricing in New York City in response to concerns raised by Jeffries.
August 2024: Reiterated support for pausing congestion pricing
In August 2024, Jeffries reiterated that the ongoing pause on congestion pricing in New York City was "a reasonable thing to do at this moment."
October 2024: Fundraising Records for 2024 Election Cycle
As of October 2024, the DCCC under Jeffries's control raised $280.9 million for the 2024 election cycle, consistently setting fundraising records.
2024: Reelected to the House
In 2024, Jeffries faced no primary challenger and was reelected to the House.
2024: Most Powerful Person in Congress
In 2024, after votes to avert a shutdown and send assistance abroad, the Associated Press called Jeffries "the most powerful person in Congress right now".
