Hakeem Jeffries nearly became House speaker. Instead, he’s steering the Democratic Party through an identity crisis and hoping to avoid an ugly intraparty civil war.

Jeffries has already initiated listening sessions to address election missteps, prioritizing voter concerns on economic issues. Colleagues describe him as a thoughtful leader capable of harmonizing the party’s diverse voices.

House Leader Hakeem Jeffries won reelection Tuesday as the Democratic leader, receiving support from his colleagues despite the party's inability to win back majority control of the chamber in the November election.