Hakeem Sekou Jeffries born August 4, 1970 is an American politician and attorney who has served as the House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. He has represented New York’s 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013, and was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2012. Raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Jeffries attended law school at New York University, where he graduated with honors. Before entering politics, he had a successful career as a corporate lawyer. Both his state assembly district and congressional district are based in Brooklyn.
Hakeem Jeffries Biography 2025
Jeffries chaired the House Democratic Caucus from 2019 to 2023, and in November 2022, he became the first African American to lead a major party in either chamber of the U.S. Congress, succeeding Nancy Pelosi. Upon graduation, Jeffries began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He then worked at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison from 1998 to 2004 before transitioning to corporate litigation roles at Viacom and CBS. At CBS, Jeffries worked on high-profile matters, including the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy. Additionally, during his time at Paul, Weiss, he served as the director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors and as president of Black Attorneys for Progress.
Hakeem Jeffries Biography Details
| Born |
Hakeem Sekou Jeffries
August 4, 1970 (age 54)
New York City, U.S. |
| Political party |
Democratic |
| Spouse |
|
| Children |
2 |
| Relatives |
Hasan Kwame Jeffries (brother)
Leonard Jeffries (uncle) |
| Education |
- Binghamton University (BA)
- Georgetown University (MPP)
- New York University (JD)
|
| Website |
House website
Party website
Campaign website |
Hakeem Jeffries Early Life
Jeffries was born at Brooklyn Hospital Center to Laneda Jeffries, a social worker, and Marland Jeffries, a state substance-abuse counselor. He has one brother, Hasan, and grew up in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. He has been a lifelong member of Cornerstone Baptist Church. Jeffries attended Midwood High School, graduating in 1988, before going on to study political science at Binghamton University. He graduated with honors in 1992 and was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
After Binghamton, Jeffries continued his education at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, earning a Master of Public Policy degree in 1994. He then attended New York University School of Law, where he was part of the New York University Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude in 1997 and delivered the student address at the school’s convocation.
Hakeem Jeffries Bio
| Personal Information |
Details |
| Full Name |
Hakeem Sekou Jeffries |
| Date of Birth |
August 4, 1970 |
| Place of Birth |
Brooklyn, New York |
| Parents |
Laneda Jeffries (Social Worker), Marland Jeffries (State Substance-Abuse Counselor) |
| Schooling |
Midwood High School, Binghamton University (BA), Georgetown University (MPP), New York University School of Law (JD) |
Political Career in New York State
| Position |
Details |
| New York State Assembly Member |
Represented the 57th district from 2007 to 2012 |
| Legislative Achievements |
Introduced over 70 bills; supported Stop-and-Frisk database bill and inmate-based gerrymandering law |
| Key Endorsement |
Endorsed Barack Obama in 2007, inspired by Obama’s rise in politics |
U.S. Congressional Career
| Position |
Details |
| U.S. House Representative |
Represented New York’s 8th district since 2013 |
| Notable Legislation |
Sponsored the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument Preservation Act, supported the Music Modernization Act, and played a role in passing the First Step Act |
| Key Leadership Roles |
Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (2019–2023), House Minority Leader (2023–present) |
Leadership in the House Democratic Caucus
| Position |
Details |
| Chair of the House Democratic Caucus |
Served from January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
| Leader of the House Democratic Caucus |
Succeeded Nancy Pelosi as Leader in 2023 |
| Deputy Leader |
Katherine Clark |
Major Legislative Actions
| Legislation |
Details |
| Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument Preservation Act |
Directed the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the monument as part of the National Park System |
| The Slain Officer Family Support Act |
Extended the tax deadline for donations to the families of slain NYPD officers |
| First Step Act |
Co-sponsored the bipartisan bill aimed at criminal justice reform, signed into law in 2018 |
Impeachment of President Donald Trump
| Event |
Details |
| Impeachment Manager |
Served as one of the seven House managers during Trump’s impeachment trial in 2020 |
| Key Moment |
Quoted Psalm 37:28 during a Senate protest, and quoted Biggie Smalls in his defense of impeachment |
Early Career in Law
| Career Milestone |
Details |
| Private Practice |
Worked at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison from 1998 to 2004 |
| Corporate Litigator |
Worked for Viacom and CBS on legal issues, including the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy |
Personal Life
| Personal Information |
Details |
| Spouse |
Kennisandra Arciniegas-Jeffries (married in 1997) |
| Children |
Two sons |
| Religion |
Baptist |
| Brother |
Hasan Kwame Jeffries (Professor at Ohio State University) |
Leadership Style
| Attribute |
Details |
| Leadership Approach |
Collaborative, focused on bipartisan solutions, advocates for criminal justice reform |
| Public Speaking |
Known for impactful speeches, including the “ABCs of Democracy” speech in 2023 |
Congressional Caucuses
| Caucus |
Details |
| Congressional Black Caucus |
Long-standing member |
| Congressional Progressive Caucus |
Member |
Awards and Recognition
| Award |
Details |
| National Action Network’s Leadership Award |
Received for his role in advancing civil rights |
| Human Rights Campaign’s National Equality Award |
Recognized for his advocacy on LGBTQ+ rights |
Views on Policy Issues
| Policy Issue |
Position |
| Criminal Justice Reform |
Advocates for bipartisan solutions to address issues like mass incarceration |
| Voting Rights |
Strong proponent of expanding access to voting, especially for disenfranchised communities |
Congressional Leadership Record
| Leadership Role |
Details |
| House Minority Leader |
Elected in January 2023, the first African American to lead a party in Congress |
| Democratic Caucus Chair |
Led the Democratic Caucus from 2019 to 2023 |
Political Endorsements
| Endorsement |
Details |
| Barack Obama |
Endorsed Jeffries during his 2012 congressional primary |
| Ed Koch |
Former Mayor of New York, supported Jeffries’s congressional bid in 2012 |
Hakeem Jeffries Net Worth
Jeffries is worth an estimated $841,012.
Hakeem Jeffries Summary
Hakeem Jeffries is an American politician and attorney, currently serving as the House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus. He represents New York’s 8th congressional district and was elected to Congress in 2013. Jeffries previously served in the New York State Assembly and has held various leadership roles within the House Democratic Caucus. As the first African American to lead a party in either chamber of Congress, he played a key role in major legislative actions, including criminal justice reform and bipartisan efforts. Jeffries continues to advocate for policies focused on justice and equality.
