Hakeem Jeffries, New York’s 8th District representative and the leader of the House Democratic Caucus, is one of the rumored candidates to succeed Nancy Pelosi as the party’s next Speaker. Let’s take a closer look at this rising political star and his family.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Jeffries earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He also received a master’s in public policy from Georgetown University and a law degree from New York University School of Law.
Joshua Jeffries
A young boy was shot dead in his Portland, Oregon home. His death remains a cold case and police are still searching for his killer thirteen years later.
The 11-year-old boy was sleeping in his room when he was shot to death, according to police. The family and neighbors said that he did not have any criminal record and did not appear to be involved with gangs or drugs.
He was a popular child, attending Lewis Elementary School and attending parties with his friends. He was also a member of a local church.
His parents and siblings are all very sad about this tragic loss. They hope that the people who killed Joshua will be brought to justice. Jeffries’s death is a painful reminder of how quickly life can change. It is a tragedy that will not be forgotten. It is also a reminder of the need for safety and de-escalation training in all situations.
Jeremiah Jeffries
Hakeem Jeffries has been representing the 8th congressional district since 2013. He has chaired the House Democratic Caucus since 2019.
His accomplishments include fighting for safer communities, affordable housing and lower costs. He also served as an impeachment manager in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump.
He is a proud product of New York City’s public schools and lives in Brooklyn with his family. He is a member of the Black Student Alliance and cofounded Teachers 4 Change and Teachers 4 Social Justice activism groups.
In 1999, Jeffries hit headlines when he held a protest against teachers spending their own money on school supplies. In the wake of his protest, the San Francisco School District increased the budget for school supplies.
Kennisandra Jeffries
Kennisandra Jeffries is the wife of Hakeem Jeffries, an American politician and attorney. She is the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus since 2019.
She and her husband have two sons. Their first child, Jeremiah, was born in 2001 and their second child, Joshua, was born three years later.
They live in Prospect Heights, a neighborhood that has seen dramatic transformations in recent years. They also live close to Senator Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party’s leadership.
The couple met at Howard University and married in 1973. They are African descent.
Although she prefers to stay out of the spotlight, she has supported her husband’s political career every step of the way. She often appears alongside Jeffries at events, including when he was sworn in with Nancy Pelosi as the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus in January 2019.
Hakeem Jeffries wife
Hakeem Jeffries was born and raised in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. He is the eldest son of Laneda (Gomes) Jeffries, a social worker, and Marland Jeffries, a substance-abuse counselor.
He attended Binghamton University for undergrad, then went on to earn a master’s in public policy at Georgetown. He then earned a law degree from New York University.
In Congress, he is an outspoken advocate for affordable housing, criminal justice reform and lower prescription drug prices. He is also a supporter of equal access to high-quality education for all Americans.
He lives in Prospect Heights with his wife Kennisandra Arciniegas-Jeffries, a social worker at 1199 SEIU’s Benefit Fund. They share two children, Jeremiah and Joshua.