In a Show of Unity, House Democrats Elect Hakeem Jeffries Minority Leader

WASHINGTON — Home Democrats on Wednesday elected new leaders to take the mantle from the three octogenarians who’ve led them for 20 years, ushering in a long-awaited generational change that, for the primary time within the historical past of both get together or chamber in Congress, put in a trio of high leaders that features no white males.

In a show of unity after midterm elections during which they misplaced the Home however had a stronger than anticipated displaying, Democrats skipped a vote and by acclamation elected Consultant Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be minority chief, making him the primary Black particular person to carry the highest spot. Consultant Katherine Clark of Massachusetts was elected as whip, the lead vote counter for Home Democrats, and Consultant Pete Aguilar of California because the chairman of the get together caucus, in control of messaging.

Mr. Jeffries, 52, Ms. Clark, 59 and Mr. Aguilar, 43, who for years have positioned themselves as an unofficial joint slate of candidates and have patiently waited their flip, ran unopposed after Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who has led the get together for 20 years, introduced this month that she would step apart, paving the way in which for brisker faces on the high of her get together.

Each Representatives Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the bulk chief, and Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California, had been contemplating difficult Mr. Jeffries for the publish of minority chief. However Mr. Hoyer stated he, too, would step apart. And plenty of Democrats stated Mr. Schiff lacked the votes to safe the publish and final week had instructed Mr. Jeffries that he was as an alternative exploring a run for Senate, wishing him properly within the upcoming management election, in keeping with an individual aware of the personal dialog who disclosed it on the situation of anonymity.

The temper was jovial on Wednesday contained in the ornate committee listening to room throughout from the Capitol the place Democrats met to elect their new leaders.

“We wish Petey Pie!” lawmakers chanted as they nominated Mr. Aguilar, utilizing a nickname his grandmother gave him, in keeping with two individuals within the room.

At one other level, Consultant Terri Sewell of Alabama led a call-and-response chant for Mr. Jeffries, borrowing a lyric from the rapper Biggie Smalls, whom Mr. Jeffries famously quoted on the Senate ground throughout former President Donald J. Trump’s first impeachment trial.

“For those who don’t know,” Ms. Sewell shouted out, “Now ,” the members known as again.

Democrats, for probably the most half, stated they noticed the shortage of aggressive races as an indication of power and unity, and a stark distinction to the fractured Republican convention, the place Consultant Kevin McCarthy, the minority chief, is struggling to win the assist he must grow to be speaker amid a revolt on his proper flank. A traditionally weak midterm efficiency has handed the G.O.P. a razor-thin Home majority for the subsequent Congress, making the job of main it exceedingly troublesome.

“It reveals that Democrats are in array, Republicans are in disarray,” stated Consultant Ted Lieu, Democrat of California, noting that the brand new slate of leaders, which features a Black man, a white lady and a Latino man, “displays the attractive variety of America.”

Consultant Ilhan Omar of Minnesota stated she was excited to have a frontrunner “who truly does characterize the variety of our caucus.”

But some Democrats known as the uncontested election a missed alternative for them to debate how their get together was shifting and the way it ought to transfer ahead.

“That is probably the most important generational change that we now have seen in Home Democrats in a number of many years,” stated Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. “I personally consider that we might profit from a debate on what meaning.”

The management elections marked a sea change for the caucus, which for 20 years has been led by the identical trio of leaders, who successfully froze out dozens of extra junior lawmakers who had been ready to ascend.

Ms. Pelosi’s announcement earlier than Thanksgiving that she would step down from management set the long-awaited change in movement. Mr. Hoyer rapidly adopted swimsuit and Consultant James Clyburn of South Carolina, the whip, stated he would relinquish the third-ranking spot and search a decrease place.

His resolution to remain in management, nevertheless, rankled some members.

On Wednesday, Consultant David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who’s homosexual, stated he deliberate to problem Mr. Clyburn for the place of assistant chief.

“With a lot at stake, I feel it’s crucial that the Home Democratic management crew absolutely replicate the variety of our caucus and the American individuals by together with an L.G.B.T.Q.+ member on the management desk,” he stated in a letter to his colleagues asserting his bid. That race shall be selected Thursday.

In remarks to reporters forward of the election, Mr. Jeffries described the position he was about to imagine as a “solemn accountability.”

“After we get a possibility as numerous leaders to serve in positions of consequence, probably the most significant factor that we will do in that house is do an extremely good job,” Mr. Jeffries stated.

He downplayed the divisions amongst Democrats and expressed confidence in his capability, alongside together with his anticipated management crew, to maintain the get together united within the coming yr.

“There’s nothing extra unifying than being within the minority and having a cleareyed goal and aim of getting again into the bulk so we will proceed to ship large issues for on a regular basis Individuals,” he stated.

Senator Chuck Schumer, the bulk chief, stated he has identified Mr. Jeffries, a Brooklyn neighbor, for years and anticipated to talk with him the identical quantity he now talks with Ms. Pelosi: about 4 to 5 occasions a day.

“It’s a little bit like Pelosi,” Mr. Schumer stated in an interview. “Once I first met her, I stated, ‘This particular person is particular, she’s going someplace.’ I felt the identical means about Hakeem.”

Mr. Schumer stated Mr. Jeffries “at all times had the leg up” within the race to succeed Ms. Pelosi.

“He’s superb at reaching out to individuals of many ideologies,” Mr. Schumer stated, predicting Mr. Jeffries would be capable to attain throughout get together traces.

“There’s going to be an entire bunch of Republicans who aren’t going to be proud of the MAGA course of the get together, and I couldn’t consider a greater particular person to work with them to try to get some issues accomplished,” Mr. Schumer stated.

Luke Broadwater and Stephanie Lai contributed reporting.