Binghamton alum Hakeem Jeffries ’92 poised to become Speaker of the House
The political science grad, who won his eighth term Nov. 3, would be the first Black speaker in House history
Binghamton University alumnus Hakeem Jeffries ’92 is poised to make history as the nation’s first Black speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Jeffries won his eighth Congressional term on Nov. 3, representing New York’s eighth Congressional district. Democrats won the majority in both houses of Congress during the midterm elections, clearing the way for Jeffries, as the current House Democratic leader, to assume the speaker post when Congress reconvenes on Jan. 3, 2027.
“This is not a partisan moment. This is a patriotic one. This is not a blue moment or a red moment,” said Jeffries during his election night watch party in Washington, D.C., during which he wore a Binghamton University ballcap. “It’s a red, white and blue moment, because America has won tonight.”
Jeffries has made history before; in 2022, he became the first Black person to lead a party in Congress after he was elected House Democratic leader, and was re-elected to that post in 2024. He is also the first Binghamton graduate to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, he said during his last visit in September 2021 as speaker for the 2020 Commencement, which was delayed by the pandemic.
He rose to national prominence as one of seven House Impeachment Managers in the Senate trial of President Donald Trump. He has been a prominent voice opposing the second Trump administration, leading Democratic efforts to pass a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act, restore the collective bargaining rights of federal workers via discharge position, and force the release of files pertaining to the case of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“The Binghamton University community takes immense pride in our alumnus Hakeem Jeffries, who has demonstrated strong leadership in the House of Representatives. As we await the selection of the next Speaker, we celebrate his many accomplishments and the powerful example he sets of what Binghamton graduates can achieve,” said Binghamton University President Anne D’Alleva. “His election as the first Black Speaker of the House would represent a historic milestone for our nation and an extraordinary moment for Binghamton University.”
Jeffries majored in political science at Binghamton, where he was active in the Black Student Union and president of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi. He credits his engagement outside the classroom and in the Binghamton community with developing his confidence and his leadership skills.
Political Science Professor David Cingranelli met Hakeem Jeffries when Jeffries took his course on ethics and American Foreign Policy. Jeffries was an enthusiastic participant in the course, including the role-playing simulation, he said.
After graduating with honors, Jeffries received his master’s in public policy from Georgetown University and graduated magna cum laude from the New York University School of Law. He worked in the law field before being elected to Congress in 2013.
The “Binghamton Caucus” in Congress will continue, with representatives Eugene Vindman (D-VA, 7th district) and John Mannion (D-NY, 22nd district) also winning re-election last night.
“We’re going to fight for small-town America,” Jeffries said during the watch party. “We’re going to fight for urban America. We’re going to fight for suburban America. We’re going to fight for the heartland of America. We’re going to fight for Black and brown communities all across America.”