Hakeem Jeffries Plots Effort to Replace Pelosi as Top House Democrat
In recent weeks, Washington DC has been awash with rumors that Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) plans to run to replace Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as the top Democrat in the House. Two senior Democratic strategists and a lobbyist responsible for fundraising related to the planned run now confirm that the rumors are true.
Speaker Pelosi has all but definitively confirmed that she does not plan to serve an 18th term in the House of Representatives in 2023. Amid this uncertainty over who will take the reins as the House Democratic Party Leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has sought to build a coalition to support his accession to the top role.
Over the last month, Jeffries has held a bevy of low profile meetings with top Democratic strategists, including James Carville and Valerie Jarrett. He’s also held a series of meetings with some of the Democratic Party’s top fundraisers from K Street, including lobbyists like Scott Wexler, Michael Barnard Scott Parven.
Several senior congressional staffers aware of the ongoing effort by Jeffries cite concerns that his attempted rise would spark an uprising by progressive members, leaving House Democrats in a stalemate.
An early and informal whip count conducted in the last week indicates that Jeffries outperforms Pelosi’s current second-in-command in the House, Rep. Stenny Hoyer (D-MD).
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About The Author: Jacob Wohl is a registered lobbyist who produces Predator DC and hosts Man Up, a weekly show that airs on Censored.TV.