House Democrats are all but certain to elect House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as their speaker designate next week.
There could still be some turbulence, though, with progressive activists calling for Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., to launch a bid against Jeffries.
Ricardo Sanchez, a Pressley spokesperson, said she was in “active conversations with Leader Jeffries about how to leverage this majority, meet the moment, and deliver for the people. She is aware of and appreciates the groundswell of support from people in her district and across the country lifting up her leadership.”
Most Democrats don’t believe Pressley will actually launch a bid ahead of next week’s leadership elections. She’s privately denied interest in running to other lawmakers, according to people familiar with her comments, and she hasn’t laid the groundwork for a bid by sounding out support from other lawmakers.
House Democrats are staring down brewing fights as younger lawmakers jostle for power and influence ahead of the party assuming its largest majority in decades. Once their leadership slate is set, the caucus will weigh major changes like implementing term limits, shaking up panel leaders, and standing up select committees on controversial policy issues.
“We can have the fight about how many terms should be the limit, but I think the time is right — with all these new members…
