Hakeem Jeffries: What to expect from the man who'll replace Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker

There is, unquestionably, a generational shift taking place in the top echelons of the Democratic Party.

Out go House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 82, and her second in command, Steny Hoyer, 83 - who were more or less in charge of the caucus for almost 20 years.

Thirty years their junior, New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries has been not so much elected as effortlessly anointed successor to Ms Pelosi, facing no competition whatsoever and receiving the unanimous support and effusive blessing of the outgoing leadership.

Mr Jeffries is the first black American to hold such a high-ranking position in Congress. And with the appointments of Representatives Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Pete Aguilar of California in the next two leadership roles, the Democratic top table will be devoid of white men for the first time in any party's history in Congress.

That is a milestone. But before everyone gets too carried away with predictions of change, it's worth stopping and asking whether the party's approach will be any different as it faces at least two years in the minority.

A swift look at Mr Jeffries' resume shows his is a thoroughly traditional political journey: first a lawyer, then a stint in New York's state house and onward to Congress.