Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (born August 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American politician, lawyer, and attorney serving as the U.S. Representative from New York's 8th congressional district. He is the current House Democratic Leader, holding the positions of House minority leader and leader of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023, succeeding Nancy Pelosi and becoming the first Black person to lead a major party in Congress. The eldest of two sons to Laneda Gomes Jeffries, a social worker, and Marland Jeffries, a substance-abuse counselor, Jeffries was raised in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn alongside his younger brother, Hasan. His family has a strong tradition of public service, with roots involving community volunteering, military service, and union activities; for instance, his maternal grandfather served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1963, and his paternal grandmother was honored for aiding the elderly in New Jersey.

Jeffries pursued higher education at Binghamton University, earning a bachelor's degree in political science in 1992. He later obtained a Master of Public Administration from Georgetown University in 1994 and a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law in 1997. Before entering politics, he worked as a corporate lawyer at firms like Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and as litigation counsel for Viacom Inc. Jeffries entered public service in 2007, serving three terms in the New York State Assembly until 2012, after which he was elected to represent New York's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he is currently in his seventh term.

As a prominent Democratic leader, Jeffries has been involved in key legislative efforts, including criminal justice reform and economic issues affecting urban communities. His tenure has focused on advocating for working families, civil rights, and opposition to Republican-led initiatives, solidifying his role in mapping progressive influence networks within the Democratic Party.