Many Democrats who are candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026 are hesitating to back House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), reflecting growing concerns about divisions within the party regarding leadership and ideology.
New research data gathered by Axios revealed that between September 24 and October 15, 113 Democratic candidates were asked about their support for Jeffries as party leader. Out of the responses, 20 said they would not vote for him, five were likely to oppose him, 57 stayed undecided, seven expressed potential support, and 24 confirmed they would support him.
The findings show that less than a quarter of responding candidates firmly backed Jeffries, while almost half were undecided. This marks a change for Jeffries, who had enjoyed unanimous backing from House Democrats since he took over from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022.
Several candidates who withhold their support have expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s messaging and leadership priorities. New Hampshire candidate Heath Howard suggested a need for fresh leadership to strongly confront the Trump administration.
Candidate Kat Abu-Ghazaleh from Illinois mentioned supporting leaders committed to taking decisive action against the current administration, urging progressives to leverage their influence for meaningful change. Texas’s Amanda Edwards echoed the sentiment, stating, “We definitely have to see improvement.” Maryland firefighter Harry Jalin added that there’s a disconnect between the anger among the base and current Democratic leadership, which needs to be addressed.
Some of the criticism arises from Jeffries’ handling of the New York mayoral race involving Congressman Zoran Mamdani, a socialist whose platform has caused divides within the party. Jeffries’ hesitation to support Mamdani has become a sticking point for progressive candidates. North Carolina’s Jacob Lawrence remarked that Jeffries’ refusal to endorse Mamdani raises concerns about future support for his own candidacy. Meanwhile, former parliamentary staffer Saikat Chakrabarti humorously noted Jeffries’ vague stance on supporting Mamdani.
Jeffries’ relationship with Mamdani has become a recurring theme for Democrats. At times, Jeffries has taken a protective approach, while at other moments, he has chosen to distance himself. He once ran as a Socialist Party candidate and, in a past response to Trump’s remarks, Mamdani clarified that he was “not a communist or a lunatic.” Jeffries claimed Democrats are a “big tent” party, suggesting that a larger base could offer broader support.
Jeffries’ leadership has been called into question as Democrats also grapple with the ongoing government shutdown. Last week, he dismissed a Republican-backed bill to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies as a “non-starter.” Both Trump and Congressional Republicans have criticized Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for focusing on partisan conflicts rather than reopening the government. Polls indicate that most voters want Democrats to agree on current spending levels.
Axios’ findings suggest that discontent with party leadership extends beyond Capitol Hill. Several critics of Jeffries are running in competitive races in battleground states, including Illinois’ Daniel Biss and Kat Abu-Ghazaleh, as well as Donovan McKinney from Michigan. While many establishment Democrats remain loyal to Jeffries, the number of candidates who are either undecided or opposed could influence internal dynamics if the Democrats regain control of the House next year.
Though Jeffries did not directly respond to the Axios findings, his spokesperson Justin Charmol stated that House Democratic leaders are focused on fighting Trump, ending the Republican shutdown, and tackling the significant Republican health care crisis. Whether this message resonates with candidates and voters in 2026 remains uncertain, but the evident divisions within the party seem to be growing.
