Powell says she’ll be ‘proud’ to vote for Hakeem Jeffries for House speaker

LINCOLN — While some newly elected Democrats are debating whether Hakeem Jeffries should be House Speaker, the new House Democrat from Nebraska is ready to make history with her vote for leader.  

Denise Powell told States Newsroom in Washington, D.C., that she knows “how big a deal firsts are.” 

“I’m the first Latina to ever be in Congress for my state,” Powell said. “So I’m proud to vote for the first Black Speaker of the House.” 

Powell is coming off a historic victory in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, where she won by 15 points. Her answer about Jeffries has been consistent throughout the campaign. She told CBS News in October she would vote for him as leader.  

Jeffries also campaigned for Powell in the last few days before Election Day. Democrats are coming into the next congressional session with a huge majority. According to Politico, Jeffries’ supporters want a decisive victory to secure the speaker’s gavel. Some Democratic voters have expressed frustration with Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer for what they viewed as insufficient resistance to the Trump administration, according to Axios. 

During a press conference Monday, the New York Democrat said he would “work hard to secure the 218 votes that are necessary; it’s in the hands of the caucus right now.” 

Currently, there is no challenger against Jeffries for speaker. The election for Democratic House leadership is set for next week. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan was voted in as minority leader by House Republicans; Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood was one of his whips.  

States Newsroom’s Washington Bureau’s Shauneen Miranda contributed reporting for this story.