Democratic infighting erupts as Hakeem Jeffries launches bid for Speaker after GOP midterm bloodbath – but nearly 400k liberals immediately declare he is ‘not the right choice’

Despite winning majorities in both the US House of Representatives and Senate in a ‘blue tsunami,’ infighting raged within the Democratic Party amid the battle for the next Speaker of the House.

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, threw his hat in the ring for the position on Wednesday – but was quickly met with opposition, as nearly 400,000 liberals signed a petition declaring he is ‘not the right choice.’ 

‘We believe the Speaker should represent the Democratic voters, not just the Democratic establishment,’ the online petition reads.

It then goes on to urge House Democrats to ‘closely examine Jeffries’ public record, policy positions, campaign donor record and leadership… and listen to constituents who do not want him elevated to Speaker.’

‘There is still time for other Democratic members of the House to step forward and seek the nomination for Speaker, someone whose priorities more closely reflect the voters who [helped] to elect the Democratic majority,’ the petition notes. 

The more than 370,000 people who signed the appeal said they are now ‘calling on every member of the incoming 120th Congress to vote against Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker in January 2027 and choose a different candidate.’

They also asked other Democrats who ‘believe you can better represent the priorities of the Democratic voters’ to come forward.

The plea was shared online by leftist actor Mark Ruffalo, who told his 7.8 million followers to ‘sign this petition if you want a new Speaker of the House.’

Several of the liberals who signed the petition denounced Jeffries as an ‘establishment’ Democrat as they called him out for his support for Israel.

‘Can we please learn from past mistakes and progress past politicians who are corporate, centrist, greedy guides who take us straight back to Republican leadership?’ one of the signatories asked.

‘No on [Senator Chuck] Schumer. No on Jeffries. No on [former House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi. No on the status quo,’ he declared.

‘We need Progressive, swift and concise leadership. Get it done and get it done fast, I’m talking [New York City Mayor Zohran] Mamdani-style and nothing less.’

‘We got out and voted, now the Democrats we voted in better do more than whine and talk,’ he said.

Another liberal who signed the petition called for ‘no more establishment speakers,’ while a third suggested: ‘The speaker should be somebody who actually stands up to MAGA bullies instead of buddying up to them.’

Yet Jeffries has not seemed deterred, as he announced his candidacy for the Speakership on Wednesday evening. 

He touted the work of Democrats under his leadership, saying the party ‘forcefully stood up for the American people and charted a path for dramatic change.’ 

Among the party’s accomplishments, he said, was the ‘first-of-its-kind litigation task force to oppose the Trump Administration in court, helping win critical cases to uphold birthright citizenship, protect the right to vote by mail and stop the President from unilaterally deploying the National Guard to intimidate the American people.’

Jeffries also said Democrats ‘led the fight for transparency and accountability’ when it came to the so-called Epstein files, and declared that the House minority ‘decisively won the healthcare battle in connection with the 43-day government shutdown, setting the stage for the House to pass a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits over the objection of Republican leadership.’

He further claimed that Democrats ‘aggressively opposed the reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed gas prices while undermining our national security.

‘Against all odds, House Democrats were consistently successful in the minority,’ the New York Congressman said.

‘We must now deliver the dramatic change the American people are demanding in the majority,’ he continued as he laid out his plan to focus on affordability, accountability and restoring ‘classic American values like liberty and justice for all, equal protection under the law, the unfettered right to vote in a representative democracy and our heritage as a nation of immigrants.’

Losing both chambers of Congress means Trump will enter a ‘lame duck’ period in his final two years in office, with Democrats able to stymie his policy agenda.

Instead of pushing laws through Congress, the president will now have to rely on executive orders in areas where he retains authority, such as tariffs, immigration, foreign policy and military action, and the use of his veto to stop Democrat policies becoming law.

He will also face Democrat-led corruption investigations into himself, his allies and family, and could even be impeached for a third time.

Democratic congressman Robert Garcia, who will lead some of the probes as chairman of the House oversight committee, issued a blunt warning to Trump and his allies: ‘Lawyer up.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Jeffries for comment.