Politics
More than one million people have signed a petition opposing Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The petition calls on House Democrats to reject Jeffries and hold a competitive leadership More than one million people have signed a petition opposing Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. election. It also urges Democratic lawmakers to vote against him when the new Congress convenes in January 2027 to elect the Speaker of the House. Launched on September 3 by Nicole Vitiello on Change.org, the petition had collected 1,124,125 signatures as of yesterday, marking a significant increase from the 600,000 recorded on Friday. The campaign calls on every member of the incoming 120th Congress to reject Jeffries, the current House Democratic leader, and consider a different candidate for the speakership.
“Democrats deserve a choice,” the petition states. It urges lawmakers to hold a meaningful competitive election rather than allowing party leadership to determine the outcome without a genuine contest. The petition argues that the Speaker should represent Democratic voters rather than merely the party establishment. It calls on lawmakers to consider Jeffries’ public record, policy positions, campaign donors and leadership before casting their votes. Furthermore, stressing that the decision should remain open to alternatives, the petition encourages other Democratic members of the House to step forward and seek the nomination. Separately, Axios reported that Democratic lawmakers and members-elect have received hundreds of phone calls since the midterm elections, urging them not to support Jeffries for Speaker. An incoming House Democrat reportedly said they had received approximately 150 calls, while another senior House Democrat told the outlet that they had received more than 500 calls over the past two days.
