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By James Bickerton
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A petition calling on House Democrats not to support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as the next Speaker has hit 500,000 signatures, according to its creator.
It follows the Democrats' dramatic midterm election victory that saw the party flip both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which will lead to a new Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House.
The petition, which labels Jeffries part of the “Democratic establishment,” suggests Democratic leaders are likely to remain under pressure from their party’s left-wing over both personal and policy choices. It was created by Nicole Whitted, an author and Democratic supporting social media creator with over 210,000 followers on TikTok.
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Newsweek contacted Jeffries for comment on Thursday outside of regular office hours by telephone, voicemail and email.
The Petition
Whitted’s petition, titled “House Democrats: CHOOSE A NEW SPEAKER,” urges House Democrats to “HOLD A COMPETITIVE ELECTION FOR SPEAKER!”
It argues that “Hakeem Jeffries is simply not the right choice” for Speaker adding: “We believe the Speaker should represent the Democratic voters, not just the Democratic establishment.”
The petition urges “every member of the incoming 120th Congress to vote against Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker in January 2027 and choose a different candidate” and suggests other House Democrats put themselves forward.
It was created in September but has grown dramatically over the past 24 hours, with a video posted by Whitted on Wednesday saying it was at “almost 20,000 signatures” compared to the current over 500,000.
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In a video posted on TikTok to promote her petition, which received over 40,000 likes, Whitted said: “He should not be f****** speaker and if you agree you can go sign this.”
Whitted singled out an August meeting between Jeffries and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Representative Haley Stevens' statement on Wednesday that she had just spoken to "our next speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries" as reasons to support the petition. Before the midterm elections Stevens infuriated many Democrats by endorsing Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
The petition was also shared on social media platform Bluesky by Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo who wrote: “Sign this petition if you want a new speaker of the house.”
Speaking to Newsweek Whitted said: "After historic wins on Tuesday, I believe the Democratic Party and our country as a whole is at a crossroads. My opposition to Hakeem Jeffries is about more than any single policy disagreement. It’s about real leadership that aligns with today’s Democratic voter, real accountability, and whether the party is genuinely listening to the voters demanding change.
"Hakeem Jeffries has longstanding political and financial ties to corporate interests and influential pro-Israel lobbying organizations. He also held a private meeting with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and outside advisor, who himself is being investigated by the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. These relationships and decisions raise serious questions for me and many of those who have signed this petition about transparency, political influence, and whose interests Democratic leadership is ultimately serving."
Whitted added she had "not received confirmation that another House Democrat intends to contest the position" but is urging one or more to do so."
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Jeffries' House Critics
Several progressive Democrats who secured election to the House on Tuesday, including members of the Democratic Socialists of America, have previously voiced concern over Jeffries becoming the next House speaker.
In July William Lawrence, who flipped Michigan’s 7th congressional district, told Axios: “I hope to have an alternative to Jeffries to vote for.”
Chris Rabb, who was elected in Pennsylvania, said Jeffries “supported a lot of the folks who my endorsees beat, and who made a lot of rhetoric that I found problematic,” while Melat Kiros, a Representative elect for Colorado, said she would “not vote for any Democrat for a leadership position if they take corporate PAC money.” This would include Jeffries.
However Jeffries has been endorsed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, one of the most prominent progressive Democrats, who in August said: “I continue to support Congressman Jeffries and his bid to become the leader.”
New Speaker Election
On Wednesday Jeffries formally announced he is running to be the next speaker with a letter to colleagues. According to Politico, who acquired a copy of the letter, Jeffries said: “Against all odds, House Democrats were consistently successful in the minority. We must now deliver the dramatic change the American people are demanding in the majority.”
If elected Jeffries would become the first Black Speaker in American history.
House Democrats will first have an internal contest to select their preferred candidate for Speaker. The new speaker will then be elected by the full House when the House reconvenes in January.
Each representative can nominate a candidate and members vote by saying the name of their preferred candidate. A simple majority of 218 members is required to elect the new speaker.
If no candidate is elected on the first vote, additional rounds of voting will take place until someone gets to the requisite 218 supporters. The House cannot conduct its standard legislative business until a new speaker is elected.
Opposition to Jeffries is concentrated on the Democratic left, and a more left-wing candidate is unlikely to attract much support from Republican Representatives.
Chuck Schumer Senate Opposition
There is also some opposition from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party to New York Senator Chuck Schumer continuing to lead the party in the Senate.
Speaking on November 4, Minnesota senator-elect Peggy Flanagan said: “I think it’s time for new leadership.”
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin in June called for “significant new leadership” for her party in remarks widely interpreted as aimed at Schumer and Jeffries.
In October, The Associated Press interviewed "more than a dozen Democratic senators" and concluded that "colleagues expect him to easily win enough support in the closed-door leadership election."
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and Tony Phillips.
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