Black women applaud historic election of Jeffries to lead House Democrats

First Black person to lead a major political party

WASHINGTON — Today, Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as their leader. Jeffries is the first Black person to hold the top leadership role in a major political party. In Our Own Voice: National Reproductive Justice Agenda President and CEO Marcela Howell issued the following statement in response:

“We congratulate Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and applaud the House members who support his leadership. The election of a Black person to serve as a leader in the House is long overdue — especially given the undeniable fact that Black people, especially Black women, time and again deliver victories to Democrats seeking office.

“We look forward to working with Rep Jeffries as he addresses the human and civil rights issues that are top priorities for democratic voters in America. We also hope to work closely with the entire Congress to address issues around reproductive health, voting rights, maternal health, and other issues core to the Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda.

“Today, we celebrate the first Black person to lead a major party in the House; tomorrow, we double down on our efforts to educate voters to hold elected officials accountable. When the new Congress convenes next year, we will ensure that members of the House and Senate pass laws that support Black women, our families and our communities.”