Hakeem Jeffries Pushes to Lock Down House Speakership, With No Challenger Emerging

Hakeem Jeffries is seeking to secure the Democratic nomination for House speaker at next week’s leadership election, with no rival having declared a challenge. His allies are gathering public endorsements and trying to build broad support, aiming to make his nomination appear inevitable despite criticism from some progressives that the process is unfair.

The New Democrat Coalition, which includes 114 House Democrats and at least 40 members-elect, has endorsed Jeffries. He is meeting with current and incoming members and plans to contact every member by Wednesday, when the closed-door election is due; allies say they are actively counting votes. Some newly elected Democrats have withheld support, and Ohio representative-elect Don Leonard says senior Democrats threatened reprisals if he did not back Jeffries. The article says Jeffries is in line to become the first Black speaker.