The overwhelming electoral upsets in last week’s midterm elections have not only taken aim at Donald Trump and his disastrous policies, but at the Democratic Party’s leadership. There is a growing brawl over the role of Minority Leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, who are set to take power in January. According to an Axios report on Nov. 6, House Democrats and members-elect have been “inundated” with calls and emails urging them not to elect Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker. One senior Democrat said their office received “over 500” calls in two days, and an incoming member reported “about 150.” Axios’ Andrew Solender said that the numbers are continuing to go up, and that one Democratic office received nearly 800 calls about Jeffries in one day.

A Change.org petition titled “House Democrats: CHOOSE A NEW SPEAKER,” launched Sept. 3 by Nicole Whitted, has now passed 1 million signatures. It urges “every member of the incoming 120th Congress to vote against Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker in January 2027 and choose a different candidate.”