Democrats on Thursday selected U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Meeks, who represents New York’s 5th congressional district, will be the first Black man to chair the powerful committee.
Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) also sought the chairmanship.
New York Congressman Eliot Engel previously chaired the committee. U.S. Rep.-elect Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) earlier this year defeated the 16-term incumbent in the primary. “I’m extremely honored to be elected chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” tweeted Meeks on Thursday. “The new era of U.S.