Hakeem Jeffries on course to become first Black party leader in Congress

New York Democrat, 52, is favorite to succeed Nancy Pelosi after declaring candidacy for House minority leader

Hakeem Jeffries of New York was on course on Friday to be the first Black party leader in Congress, declaring his candidacy for House minority leader after securing key endorsements to succeed Nancy Pelosi, the current speaker who announced her withdrawal from leadership on Thursday.

Democrats will cede control of the House in January, after midterm elections in which Republicans performed less well than expected but still took the lower chamber.