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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has no challenger standing between him and his bid to become House speaker after the November 3 midterm elections in which Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, but growing opposition inside the party is raising questions about how long that will last.
Jeffries was first elected to lead House Democrats in November 2022, succeeding former Speaker Nancy Pelosi in an uncontested race that made him the first Black lawmaker to lead either party in Congress. He won the House minority post unanimously and hasn’t faced a challenger since. But opposition to the New York Democrat has intensified in recent weeks as he moves closer to the far more powerful role of House speaker, where he would again make history as the first Black lawmaker to hold the gavel.
“It is inevitable for Jeffries to have a challenger,” John Geer, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt professor of political science at Vanderbilt University, told Newsweek. “With the blue wave comes not only more Democratic seats, but additional ambition among those who want to lead the newly energized party.”
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However, there’s a catch. No Democrat has stepped forward to challenge Jeffries, in part because doing so could come at a significant political cost if the effort fails. A Democrat challenging Jeffries would have to openly oppose a leader who is strongly expected to become speaker, knowing they would still have to work with him and his allies if the challenge failed.
“It may not happen formally, since it could be a costly move for the person who tries,” Geer said. “But if there are enough members who rally around a possible contender, that person might make it official.”
Geer added that a challenger could instead emerge further down the road, as circumstances change and an opportunity to take on Jeffries arises.
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Why Would Another Democrat Challenge Hakeem Jeffries?
The speaker helps control the House agenda and which legislation gets priority while leading a chamber with broad investigative and subpoena powers. The speaker is also second in the presidential line of succession.
Much of the opposition that has risen in response to Jeffries’ speaker bid is centered around his longstanding support for Israel and ties to the political action committee American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), among other concerns.
That makes the choice of speaker especially important for Democrats who are unhappy with Jeffries and want the party to take a different direction. Some incoming lawmakers have also stopped short of backing his bid. Outside of Congress, concerns have also surfaced, and a petition calling for new Democratic leadership has attracted more than 1.1 million signatures.
“But there's a big difference between some Democrats being unsatisfied with Jeffries and a member being willing to put their political career on the line to challenge him,” George Washington University associate professor Casey Burgat told Newsweek. “Right now, there's a protest movement looking for a candidate, but no candidate officially building a coalition.”
Should a challenger emerge, the contest “could expose divisions over Israel, corporate influence and how aggressively Democrats should confront Trump,” Burgat added. However, a challenger could also reveal how much support Jeffries has for the position, which in and of itself could deter someone from rising to the role.
Who Is Running for Speaker of the House?
So far, Jeffries is the only Democrat to announce a bid for speaker, and no challenger has emerged ahead of the party’s leadership election.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, another New York Democrat, is seeking to become majority leader, but he faces a challenge from Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen.
How Will Congress Change in 2027?
Unlike the narrow margins that have defined Congress in recent years, Democrats are on track to hold sizable majorities in the House and Senate, with room to spare in the House and a smaller advantage in the Senate, which could make it easier to advance their agenda.
How Is the Speaker of the House Chosen?
House Democrats are scheduled to hold their internal leadership elections on November 18, when Democratic members will choose their nominee for speaker. Jeffries is widely expected to achieve the nomination.
The formal speaker election will take place on the House floor when the new Congress convenes in January. At that point, the full House votes by roll call, and a candidate must receive a majority to become speaker.
Speaker of the House vs. Senate Majority Leader
The speaker is elected by the full House and has formal authority over the chamber, including significant influence over which legislation reaches the floor, and is second in line to the presidency. The Senate majority leader is chosen by senators from the majority party and manages the Senate’s schedule, deciding which bills and nominations to prioritize while working to secure enough votes to pass them.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Anna Skinner and Dave Siminoff.
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