U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gives a keynote address at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association brunch in Springfield on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. The event is the largest annual downstate gathering of Illinois Democrats. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki))

Hakeem Jeffries Gives Keynote Address at Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association Annual Breakfast

By Greg Halbleib Aug 14, 2025 | 5:51 AM

The man who hopes to become the next U.S. House speaker told Illinois Democrats on Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s presidency has been a debacle and Democrats must work to take back Congress in 2026.

Capitol News Illinois reports House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York was the keynote speaker at the annual breakfast of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association.

Jeffries also said Democrats need to focus on issues important to middle class voters like jobs, health care, education and Social Security.