Demhouse minority leader Hicombe Jeffries on Sunday rejected the Democratic National Committee’s debated plan to fund key challenges for passive party members in safe districts.
Jeffries of New York supported all House incumbents across the country in the 2026 cycle, and promoted the party to focus on knocking off Republicans.
“I look forward to being in the back of every Democratic incumbent, from the most progressive to the most centralist, to all the points in between,” Jeffries said “this week” when asked about the opposition by David Hogg, vice-president of the Democratic National Committee.
“They are working hard in the community and are rising in opportunities,” Jeffries said of DEM’s current position.
Last week, Hogg, who has been one of three DNC vice chairs since February, announced that his organization, “We’re the Right Leader,” will send out $20 million to challenge the incumbents of a modest family in favor of more fighting candidates.
Hogg is intended to refrain from interfering in battlefield district primary contests so Democrats can prioritize victory there.
His move alienates many Democrats who find it inappropriate for someone in his position to interfere in the primary.
Usually, DNC and Republican National Committee leaders are expected to remain neutral in major contests rather than place their thumb on scale.
But Hogg is why he wants to intervene in a primary that DNC president Ken Martin doesn’t support, as many Democrats claim to be “sleeping on the wheels” and “we haven’t seen them in the moment.”
When pushed over Hogg, Jeffries replied, “We can really focus on trying to defeat Republican incumbents, regain control of the House of Representatives and begin the process of ending the nightmare of this nation, which is being visited by far-right extremism.”
Democrats hope to seize the House in 2026. Republicans currently have a majority of 220 to 213, with two vacant seats in the Democratic base district. Historically, minorities have shown a very strong show in the first midterm elections of the presidential administration.
“We will continue to make clear that the cost of living in the United States is too high,” Jeffries said of his party’s message. “Donald Trump and the Republicans have pledged to cut their costs of living. In fact, the costs haven’t been lowered on the first day. They’re on the rise.”
Later on the show, Hogg defended the plan to target safe seat incumbent Democrats, claiming that “we must be a party that doesn’t have a 27% approval rate from our base.”
Former acting DNC chairperson Donna Brazil urged him to be cautious.
“Many of them weren’t seated at the table for us, so the seats that women and minorities finally got the chance to come and sit,” she warned in a panel “this week.” “So, be very careful before you start wiping the menu, plates and seats.”
Hogg argued that Democrats need to elect strong lawmakers to Congress.
