U.S. media reported today that despite the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the midterm elections, a growing number of voices within the House Democratic Caucus are calling for the rejection of Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the House. Some members have said they have received over 500 calls on the issue, and a petition opposing Jeffries has gathered nearly 900,000 signatures.
A Democratic lawmaker stated: “This is our most pressing concern right now, and the divisions are clear.” Another member revealed that several colleagues have suggested Jamie Raskin as a potential alternative speaker. Progressive activists oppose Jeffries due to his close ties with Israel and perceptions that he has not taken sufficiently strong action against Donald Trump. Nevertheless, Jeffries remains the leading candidate. A senior progressive figure described the likelihood of his defeat as “0.0%”.
Commentary: Hakeem Jeffries, a Black congressman from Brooklyn, New York, holds a law doctorate and represents the moderate establishment wing of the Democratic Party. He is the first African American to lead either party’s conference in the U.S. House of Representatives. Known for his longstanding pro-Israel stance, Jeffries previously participated in the impeachment proceedings against Trump. However, within the left-wing progressive faction, he is seen as overly cautious, compromising, and lacking sufficient resolve. Even with a decisive Democratic win, internal dissent persists—centered largely on the Israel-Palestine conflict and concerns that Jeffries has been too conciliatory toward Trump. Many progressives advocate replacing him with the more ideologically assertive Jamie Raskin. Yet, while petitions and constituent outreach reflect external pressure, institutional support within Congress remains firmly behind Jeffries. His position is deeply entrenched; the opposition from the left is largely symbolic, serving as leverage rather than a realistic threat to his candidacy.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881283766852619/
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