The Los Angeles City Council confirmed President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson as the council’s next president Tuesday.

Last week, Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky – who represents Westwood – and Heather Hutt nominated Harris-Dawson, who represents District 8 and chairs the city’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee. Harris-Dawson, an LA native who attended Morehouse College and earned a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, was confirmed in a 14-0 vote Tuesday with Councilmember Monica Rodriguez absent.

“He doesn’t just come to you and ask for a vote when he needs it. He takes the time to ask what you need, how he can be helpful,” Yaroslavsky said in a Tuesday post on X. “And then he actually follows through. With so many big, important challenges on the horizon for Los Angeles, I cannot think of a better person to lead the City Council.”

Harris-Dawson – who has received awards such as the NAACP Man of Valor Award, Do Something “BRICK” Award and The Wellness Foundation Sabbatical Award – thanked the council for their support following his confirmation by the council. He is set to assume the position Sept. 20.

“You’ll hear more from us later,” he said. “Until September, expect to see me with my head down, studying as hard as we can – so we can be as prepared as possible when we take leadership of this council.”

Current Council President Paul Krekorian – who has served in the role since October 2022 – will leave the council in December as he has reached his term limit. Krekorian guided the council through governance reforms during a difficult period for LA and the council, LA Mayor Karen Bass said in a press release Tuesday.

“Councilman Harris-Dawson has a long history in City Hall and beyond of bringing people of all backgrounds and across all sectors together,” Bass said in the press release. “I look forward to continuing to lock arms with Council leadership to bring more unhoused Angelenos inside and make Los Angeles safer for all.”