Inside the Democratic Socialists’ Plan to Pressure Hakeem Jeffries

DSA leaders are working behind the scenes with their endorsed candidates to pressure Jeffries on progressive priorities

WASHINGTON—Hakeem Jeffries is closing in on the Speaker’s gavel, but his path to power runs directly through an expanding group of Democratic Socialists who want major policy concessions in exchange for their support.

Emerging from primary victories in heavily Democratic districts, a slate of freshman candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America is organizing behind the scenes to extract commitments from party leadership to advance far-left priorities. With Democrats favored to win a thin House majority in November, an organized faction could hold the balance of power.

The candidates haven’t publicly backed Jeffries for speaker. In interviews, four of the seven candidates deflected the question or said they hadn’t committed and needed assurances first. Meanwhile, the DSA is planning an unprecedented amount of coordination with its endorsed candidates, most of whom are favored to win in the general election.

To win backing from the DSA’s national organization and some local chapters, the candidates had to agree to work closely with the group once in office and caucus with other endorsed members. The DSA and the candidates will decide together on what red lines to set with Jeffries, said DSA national co-chair Ashik Siddique.

Jeffries, currently the minority leader, has spoken with or met with all of the primary-winning DSA candidates in recent months, according to people familiar with the conversations. Michigan candidate Donavan McKinney said the two have talked on the phone and are planning a sit-down.

“This is about receiving assurances that we can push legislation that our communities need,” said McKinney, a state representative who won his Detroit-area primary in August...

If they take the House, two years of watching and listening to Hakeem Jeffries will lead to the GOP retaking the House in 2028. He is a fool, and that will be painfully obvious to voters over a couple of years of failed impeachment(s).

Jeffries will have to rely on his courage, integrity, intelligence and love of the American people.

He’s toast.

After a short time of waffling. 🧇🧇

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