Lefty activist could pocket more than $500K from petition against Hakeem Jeffries becoming House speaker

A petition opposing Hakeem Jeffries becoming House speaker has attracted more than 1.09 million signatures, potentially bringing its organiser, Nicole Whitted, a substantial payment through Change.org’s ambassador programme. The story matters because a campaign aimed at influencing a major party leadership vote may also provide its organiser with significant personal earnings.

Change.org’s earlier terms described an advance based on audience size and payments of 30 to 50 cents per signature, which would imply as much as $547,500 at the petition’s current total. The site has since revised its explanation to say ambassadors receive an upfront payment and 95% of supporters’ monthly contributions; an estimate cited on the site put earnings for a petition with over 200,000 signatures at about $80,000. A separate petition calls for Whitted to use her earnings to help replace Jeffries as Democratic leader, though Jeffries remains the strong favourite to become speaker when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.