Progressive Freshmen Withhold Support for Jeffries' Speaker Bid as 3 Members Stay Uncommitted
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Nov 9
Progressive Freshmen Withhold Support for Jeffries' Speaker Bid as 3 Members Stay Uncommitted
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Nov 9
Summary
A dozen-plus incoming House progressives met at Democratic headquarters Sunday, and several said they are not yet backing Hakeem Jeffries for speaker despite pressure to unify.
Three members-elect — Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Adam Hamawy — told POLITICO they remain uncommitted, while Melat Kiros warned Jeffries needs a "bold agenda" or progressives may seek an alternative.
Their demands include Medicare for All, voting-rights legislation, public housing, abolishing ICE and ending U.S. support for Israel; some also said Jeffries has not contacted them since election night.
Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar said he expects to deliver votes for Jeffries in exchange for a more populist agenda, but internal friction is already surfacing over whether to push Medicare for All to a markup or a floor vote.
The standoff comes as Democrats return for a lame-duck session and Jeffries weighs whether to cut deals with Republicans or confront Trump more aggressively, even as allies like Brad Lander predict he will still win by a wide margin.