Jeffries Losing Support, Dozens of Dems Won’t Commit To Backing Him
A significant number of Democratic House candidates are expressing reluctance to support their current leader, Hakeem Jeffries. In a survey of 113 contenders for winnable seats, many declined to commit to backing him for a leadership role in the next Congress.
This reveals emerging divisions within the party. While Jeffries has enjoyed unanimous caucus support since 2022, frustration is now growing, particularly among progressive grassroots activists.
Of those surveyed, 20 candidates stated they would not vote for Jeffries, and five said they were likely to oppose him. A larger group of 57 described it as too early to decide or cited concerns about his ideology and leadership style.
In contrast, only 24 respondents said they would definitely support him, with seven more leaning in his favor. Jeffries’ office pushed back, stating his focus is on battling Donald Trump and addressing Republican-led crises.
The skeptical candidates include both long-shots and credible challengers. For instance, Daniel Biss and Kat Abughazaleh, frontrunners in an Illinois primary, both stopped short of pledging their support.
A recurring complaint involves Jeffries’ refusal to endorse progressive Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor. This decision has become a symbolic point of contention, with some candidates questioning if the party would support their own progressive campaigns.
Overall, these candidates are demanding a more aggressive leadership style that they believe better matches the “anger of the base” and fights harder against the Trump administration.
