"Hakeem Jeffries faces a crucial juncture":Democrats frantically seek a strategy, as per Jeffries' call for action.
In the midst of turmoil as Democrats contend with a heated battle over a government funding bill, House leader Hakeem Jeffries received some shrewd advice from party veteran Nancy Pelosi: show some muscle. With the threat of a government shutdown looming, Jeffries is under increasing pressure to take the reins and lead the opposition against the White House.
After a week at home, soaking up the heat from their constituents demanding a firmer stance against President Donald Trump, Jeffries finds himself faced with the need to ditch his cautious demeanor and become the feared leader his party requires.
"He's gotta step up or Chuck does," remarked one senior House Democrat who is close to Jeffries, speaking anonymously. "He's alwaysbowing to Chuck, and I think that's gonna end."
As the role of top Democrat under a Republican president is an unfamiliar one for Jeffries, many are wondering if he's up to the challenge. Pelosi, who served as speaker under President George W. Bush and during Trump's first term, has often driven the party's strategy. But with Pelosi taking a backseat, it's Jeffries' time to prove himself.
"We need a strategy, and it can't be surrender," Rep. Jared Huffman of California said in an interview. "I think he understood the moment."
With record low standing among the American public and lacking a national leader, Democrats are growing increasingly desperate as the midterm elections approach. Fearing they could lose their House majority without a new approach, some are pushing for a fresh policy agenda akin to those offered in the lead up to the 2006 and 2018 midterms, which saw Democrats take the house with promises to check GOP presidents.
"We gotta show people we are willing to stand up," said Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, adding that Democrats need to be willing to cut waste and fraud but also defend key government programs that people rely on.
As Jeffries faces his biggest national moment yet, he's also confronting a personal struggle. Before the crisis of confidence in Chuck Schumer, Jeffries' leadership had also been subject to questions from a divided House caucus and party base.
"He's never been in a position like this before," said one senior House Democratic member, who remarked that Jeffries has had to adjust and has been "slow" at times to tap into the anger from the Democratic base.
As Congress faces a government shutdown, Jeffries recently rallied his caucus to unite against the GOP spending bill. Despite his efforts, the measure ultimately passed, but in a private meeting with battleground Democrats, Jeffries' top spending leader, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, was pressed to explain what Democrats wanted from a shutdown.
Rep. Steven Horsford - a Nevada Democrat and longtime leadership ally - warned DeLauro that the party needed a strong message if they were willing to go to the brink of a shutdown.
In the coming days, Jeffries will face the task of silencing his fractured party's circular firing squad, turning the anger against Schumer and focusing it back on Trump. While some are calling for new Senate leadership, Jeffries and Schumer are currently working behind the scenes to align their political strategy on the upcoming battles against Trump. Their immediate goal will be derailing Trump's sweeping tax, border, and spending cuts package, setting the stage for yet another funding fight in the fall, where Democrats could have leverage.
This report has contributions from CNN's Edward-Isaac Dovere
Behind the Scenes
- Key Strategies:
- Unified Response: Jeffries is focusing on rallying his party to present a unified front against Republican funding bills.
- Messaging: Jeffries is positioning Democrats as champions of everyday Americans against extreme GOP agendas, seeking to unify his caucus by emphasizing shared goals.
- Engaging Members: Jeffries continues to engage with progressive members like Rep. Greg Casar to ensure their voices are heard while aiming to regain support from working-class voters.
- Challenges:
- Balancing Demands: Jeffries must navigate the ideological spectrum within his caucus while appealing to moderate and swing voters.
- Preparing for Midterms: Jeffries' strategies are also shaped by the upcoming elections, where regaining a House majority is a key objective.
- Representative Hakeem Jeffries, under increasing pressure to lead the opposition against the White House, is grappling with the need to stand up and display muscle, as advised by party veteran Nancy Pelosi.
- Amidst the growing desperation among Democrats to blunt the impact of the government funding battle, Rep. Jared Huffman of California underscored the need for a robust strategy, stating, "We need a strategy, and it can't be surrender."
- In an effort to strengthen their hand ahead of the midterm elections, senior House Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell emphasized the importance of standing up for key government programs and cutting waste and fraud, arguing, "We gotta show people we are willing to stand up."
