Democratic primaries this summer are likely to produce another wave of incoming House members who have declined to pledge support for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as speaker, according to Axios. This expanding faction of skeptics could create significant challenges for Jeffries as he tries to unify the party against the Trump administration.
Jeffries' colleagues across the political spectrum widely expect him to become speaker should Democrats retake the majority. They draw parallels to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who faced similar opposition in 2018 yet still secured the gavel. No clear alternative to Jeffries has emerged, with House Democrats and candidates telling Axios there have been no indications of a potential challenger.
Primaries this spring and early summer have elevated several high-profile members of the Democratic Socialists of America who refuse to commit to Jeffries. These include Darializa Avila-Chevalier and Claire Valdez in New York, as well as Adam Hamawy in New Jersey. Melat Kiros also recently won a primary race.
Even if these rebellious first-year representatives ultimately acquiesce on Jan. 3, they are not planning to make Jeffries' tenure as speaker an easy one. The growing resistance signals potential internal friction that could hamper Democratic legislative strategy. The dynamics echo past intra-party battles but with a more organized dissident faction.