A grassroots pressure campaign is targeting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), with members of the House Democratic caucus reporting a surge of calls and emails urging them not to elect him Speaker when the new Congress convenes, according to Axios.
One member told Axios their office received between 300 and 400 calls in two days. Another reported more than 500 calls. A third member said the volume was even higher, telling Axios, “It’s our No. 1 issue, and it’s not close.”
A Democratic chief of staff said their office fielded about 300 calls, adding that “lots of people are saying make Jamie Raskin speaker.” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) is currently positioned to chair the House Judiciary Committee. Another House Democrat who reported 300 to 400 calls pointed to a tweet from actor Mark Ruffalo and an associated Change.org petition as a driver of the campaign.
The effort echoes a parallel push against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), whose leadership is also being challenged by some incoming freshman senators despite his Senate Majority PAC’s role in helping elect many of them this cycle.
The organizing against Jeffries has moved online as well, with activists pressing the case on social media in an apparent effort to influence the leadership vote before it happens.
It remains unclear whether the pressure will change the outcome. Jeffries and Schumer are both still believed to have the votes needed to retain their leadership posts. Raskin’s expected move to chair the Judiciary Committee suggests he is not actively seeking the speakership himself.
The dispute comes after Democrats won majorities in both the House and Senate in the midterms, and it signals an early rift between the party’s progressive base and its established leadership heading into the new Congress.
Add comment