House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) could make history as the first black speaker should Democrats win the upcoming midterm elections. But a razor-thin GOP majority that seems to narrow by the week could put Jeffries in the speaker’s chair much sooner than anticipated.

If Jeffries becomes speaker, he will have to take on the burden that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) currently faces: a slim majority, different ideological factions, and working across the aisle and chambers to get things done.