Washington, Nov. 5 -- Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is on the cusp of making history as the nation's first Black speaker of the House. Jeffries faces a vote of his colleagues when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3. If nominated and elected, as expected, it would be the first time a Black lawmaker has grasped the powerful House speaker's gavel, a job second in line to the president and the only leadership position in Congress mandated by the US Constitution.ap...