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Insurgent Democratic House Candidates Withhold Support for Jeffries and Demand a Harder Line

A growing bloc declining to back Hakeem Jeffries signals a potential Tea Party–style test for Democratic unity.

Overview

  • New interviews show dozens of Democratic congressional hopefuls publicly rebuking party leaders and vowing to be more combative toward the Trump administration.
  • Only 31 of 113 Democratic House candidates polled by Axios said they would support Hakeem Jeffries for leader or speaker.
  • Progressive challengers including Jolanda Jones, Amanda Edwards, Kat Abughazaleh, and Saikat Chakrabarti are urging aggressive tactics and rejecting conciliatory approaches.
  • Analysts and candidates warn that even a small group of renegades could complicate House leadership if Democrats secure only a narrow majority next year.
  • The internal tensions come as Democrats face a cash disadvantage to Republicans, a third week of a government shutdown, and reports that Chuck Schumer briefly floated and then withdrew a stopgap plan, with Jeffries expected to weigh in on New York’s mayoral race before early voting begins on October 25.