New Democrat Leaders Back Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker as 140-Member Caucus Flexes Clout
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Nov 11
New Democrat Leaders Back Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker as 140-Member Caucus Flexes Clout
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Nov 11
Summary
Newly elected New Democrat Coalition leaders said Tuesday they will be a “critical voting bloc” to make Hakeem Jeffries the next House speaker.
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, the incoming chair, said Jeffries “will be the next speaker,” while incoming communications vice chair Marilyn Strickland called the backing “unequivocal” and “without hesitation.”
More than 140 members give the centrist coalition significant leverage next term as House Democrats’ largest ideological caucus.
The incoming team — including Gabe Vasquez as policy vice chair and Kim Schrier as outreach vice chair — is positioning itself as both an agenda-setting force and a broker of consensus inside the Democratic caucus.