Hakeem Jeffries poised to become speaker of US House of Representatives

The Democrats' strong showing in the midterm elections has placed Hakeem Jeffries in line to become the first Black speaker of the US House of Representatives. As speaker, Jeffries would preside over a majority that will be sworn in at the start of January, succeeding Republicans who have controlled the House for the past four years.

Jeffries, elected from a New York City congressional district, faces the challenge of bridging the gap between his party's moderates and more progressive members. During his victory speech, Jeffries vowed to reverse spending cuts to Medicaid and pass legislation addressing economic concerns. He also pledged to investigate the Trump administration's dealings with corporations.

With votes still being counted, the exact size of the Democratic majority in the House is uncertain. The newly elected House Democrats will meet to select a speaker in the coming weeks, with Jeffries facing no serious opposition. He aims to balance progressive policies with the need for bipartisan support on key issues like Social Security, Medicaid, and immigration.