Hakeem Jeffries: Nancy Pelosi’s likely successor formally declares Democratic leadership bid

Republicans are set to hold an extremely slim majority in the House of Representatives

Nancy Pelosi steps down as Democratic leader after losing House

With the Republican Party projected to win a slim majority in the US House of Representatives and Nancy Pelosi stepping down from the Democratic leadership, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries has officially declared he is running for his party’s top job – and so far, he is unopposed.

In an emotional address on the House floor on Thursday, Ms Pelosi said lawmakers “must move boldly into the future” and remain “open to fresh possibilities.” She will continue to serve her district as the congresswoman representing San Francisco, but she will not seek re-election to a leadership role.

Current House minority leader Kevin McCarthy has already cleared the first hurdle toward being elected House Speaker but with more than 30 of his members declining to back him.

The Republican was notably absent from Ms Pelosi’s announcement in the lower chamber – a rebuke after several other GOP figures turned out to join Democrats in applauding the long-running lawmaker.

When asked by reporters why he missed the speech, he claimed he “had meetings”.

Key points

• Nancy Pelosi will not seek re-election for Democratic leadership
• Republicans win control of the House
• Senate Republicans re-elect Mitch McConnell as minority leader
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrates Democrats holding the Senate
• Kevin McCarthy clears first test in bid to become House speaker

[17 November 2022 13:30 · Andrew Naughtie]

How Republicans won control of the House

Republicans have won a slim majority of seats in the House of Representatives, giving the GOP control of the lower chamber of Congress.

Republicans gained numerous seats in places where a majority of voters elected Joe Biden just two years ago, with races in Democratic strongholds such as New York falling into the GOP column for the first time in many years after courts rejected a congressional map that would have favoured the Democratic Party by a large margin.

Still, it was far from the “red wave” anticipated by Republicans, with embattled Democrats in critical races managing to protect their seats as voters – particularly young people and women – rejected far-right campaigns on abortion rights, Mr Trump’s looming precense and the GOP’s worryingly antidemocratic agenda.

Democratic candidates also maintained control of the US Senate by flipping a Pennsylvania seat and scoring victories in critical battleground states, with a runoff election in Georgia between incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker set for 6 December.

[17 November 2022 14:00 · Andrew Naughtie]

DC press game out Pelosi’s speech

The news that Nancy Pelosi will announce her leadership plans today has sent the DC press pack scrambling to keep up – and has everyone far more excited than the news the Republicans are taking over the House.

[17 November 2022 14:30 · Megan Sheets]

Boebert v Frisch race could be called as soon as today

The results in Lauren Boebert’s race against Adam Frisch for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District could be called as soon as today, experts say.

The deadline for voters to fix ballot discrepancies and for county clerks to receive military and overseas votes passed on Wednesday.

Now, there are believed to be a few thousand votes outstanding as Ms Boebert continues to hold a 0.4 per cent lead over Mr Frisch, according to the Associated Press.

All ballots must be counted by Friday.

Should the race stay within a margin of 0.5 per cent, a recount will be called automatically.

Both candidates have already begun preparing for that possibility.

Follow developments from the race on our dedicated blog.

[17 November 2022 14:34 · Alex Woodward]

Nancy Pelosi will address ‘future plans’ in Thursday remarks

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will likely deliver remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives today after Republicans were projected to win a majority in the lower chamber.

GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, who was nominated by his caucus to serve as the next speaker, celebrated on Wednesday night, saying “Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver.”

[17 November 2022 15:07 · Alex Woodward]

Hours after securing the majority, House Republicans announce their plans to investigate the Biden family

The morning after Republicans secured a majority in the House, GOP members of the House Oversight Committee announced their first order of business for the next Congress: Investigating Joe Biden.

US Rep James Comer alleged that the president is “enriching his family,” an “abuse of the highest order.”

“We believe this is of the utmost importance,” he said.

Hunter Biden has been under federal investigation for four years. No charges have been brought. House Republicans admitted that they do not know if the claims they are making have already been considered by federal prosecutors.

[17 November 2022 15:35 · Alex Woodward]

The rise of the ‘crazy caucus’: All the ways the GOP could upend America now that they’ve won the House

Former Republican officeholders told The Independent that Republicans won’t hold back in their efforts to hurt the Biden administration, consequences be damned.

[17 November 2022 16:21 · Alex Woodward]

Is Hakeem Jeffries the future Democratic House leader?

New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who has been chair of the House Democratic caucus since 2019, is reportedly in consideration for a leadership role following the end of Nancy Pelosi’s tenure as House Speaker.

After Republicans won a majority in the House with midterm elections, the House Speaker role is likely to land with Kevin McCarthy, the current House GOP minority leader.

Ms Pelosi is expected to announce her plans in remarks on the House floor at noon.

Meanwhile, Mr Jeffries is likely to have Ms Pelosi’s blessing to lead the caucus moving forward.

[17 November 2022 16:40 · Alex Woodward]

Nancy Pelosi arrives at the Capitol

Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in white at the Capitol on Thursday morning preparing to deliver remarks on the House floor to announce whether she will remain in Democratic leadership or, as expected, pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic officials.

She has led House Democrats since 2003 and has served as House Speaker since 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2011. She has represented a congressional district that includes San Francisco since 1987, a seat that she easily was re-elected to this year.

(AFP via Getty Images)

It appears she will commit to her 2018 pledge to step back from leadership beyond 2023, with Republicans set to take majority control of the lower chamber of Congress in January.

Ms Pelosi is expected to deliver a speech shortly after noon ET.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[17 November 2022 17:18 · Alex Woodward]

Watch: Pelosi takes the gavel in 2007 and 2019

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has led House Democrats since 2003 and served as House Speaker from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019.

[17 November 2022 17:21 · Alex Woodward]

Speaker Pelosi addresses the House

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, addressing lawmakers in the House “on sacred ground” at “the heart of American democracy,” recounted the first time she saw the US Capitol as a young girl.

“I believed then as I did today it is the most beautiful building in the world for what it represents,” she said. “On that day, I stood with my father on this floor as he took a sacred oath, to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic ... It is the oath that stitches us all together.”