11-19-2022
Top Democratic House leaders will become 31 years younger on average, led by Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar.
US House Democrats are about to experience a massive youth movement — relatively speaking —
in their highest ranks.
With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announcing they'll leave Democratic leadership in 2023 — although remain in Congress — the average age of Democrats' expected top three leaders will drop by 31 years.
Presumptive Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York is 52, presumptive House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts is 59, and presumptive Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California is 43.
The current top Democratic leaders — Pelosi, Hoyer, and Rep. James Clyburn — are 82, 83, and 82, respectively.
The current Congress is the oldest in American history, according to Insider's "Red, White, and Gray" project, making this shift a decided victory for Generation X, which has often struggled to vault itself to government leadership's upper echelon.
In remarks today on the House floor confirming her departure from House leadership, Pelosi acknowledged that "the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect."
Said Hoyer in a statement: "Now is the time for a new generation of leaders, and I am proud to offer my strong endorsement to Hakeem Jeffries for Democratic leader."
And Clyburn said he will "look forward" to "doing whatever I can to assist our new generation of Democratic leaders which I hope to be Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar."
This will be welcomed news to a significant majority of Americans who, according to a recent Insider/Morning Consult poll, believe the US government is much too old and support measures to address the status quo, including term limits and even age limits.
A frequent refrain:
Aged leaders are out of touch, particularly on issues such as climate change, technology, civil rights, and abortion. Others are simply concerned with some leaders staying well past their primes, with declining capacities to carry out the duties voters elected them to perform.
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