Brooklyn’s Hakeem Jeffries is the new Democratic golden child. He has been tapped for an important fund-raising position as the party tries to take back the majority in the House.

Following his crushing defeat of City Councilman Charles Barron in last week’s Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District, House Democratic leaders selected the assemblyman to be part of a team of 10 cash-grabbing heavy-hitters.

Chosen by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the group will parachute in to help fellow Democrats who are in close races raise the dough to finish on top.

Party leaders took notice of Jeffries’ fund-raising prowess — and how he built a network of support, including a wide array of endorsements — that allowed him to wax Barron, eclipsing 70% of the vote.

“Hakeem Jeffries is a strong leader for New York and for the Democratic Party, and is dedicated to helping other Democrats fight the extreme Republican agenda,” said Rep. Steve Israel (D-L.I.), who chairs the DCCC.

Jeffries raised more than $770,000 by early June, and pulled in $250,000 more in the final weeks of the campaign, his supporters said. Campaign watchers argued that, early on in the campaign, Jeffries’ ability to outraise 15-term incumbent Rep. Edolphus Towns, siphoning support from Towns’ longtime base, prompted him in April to say he would be retiring.

“The people of the 8th Congressional District will benefit tremendously from a Democratic majority,” Jeffries said Sunday.

He said he plans to raise money, recruit volunteers and travel the country between now and November. An important objective will be to identify “swing districts where a high turnout in the African-American community can make the difference,” he said.

(Source: NY Daily News)