Jeffries, Hakeem, 1970-

Hakeem Sekou Jeffries (born August 4, 1970) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 8th congressional district since 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Jeffries was born in Brooklyn, New York. In 1988, he graduated from Midwood High School. In 1992, he earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in political science from Binghamton University. In 1994, he earned a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. In 1997, Jeffries earned a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. Jeffries served as a clerk for Judge Harold Baer Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, then worked in the litigation department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison before becoming assistant litigator for Viacom and CBS.

On his fourth attempt, Jeffries won the Democratic primary for the 57th Assembly district in the New York State Assembly, then went on to serve in that body for six years. Jeffries announced in January 2012 that he would give up his Assembly seat to run for the U.S. House from New York's 8th congressional district. Jeffries won the Democratic primary that June and was elected to Congress that November. He has been reelected four times. Jeffries has chaired the House Democratic Caucus since 2019.