The Left Wants a Different Speaker: 1.2 Million Sign Petition Against Jeffries

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was a shoo-in for speaker of the House after Democrats claimed the majority for the 120th Congress. While he doesn’t face competition yet, the newly elected progressive candidates may try to tap their pick instead.

An online petition has accumulated nearly 1.2 million signatures urging House Democrats to pick a new speaker of the House.

“Democrats deserve a choice. Hold a competitive election for Speaker,” the petition reads, referring to Jeffries as the Democratic Party establishment.

Started by Nicole Whitted, a left-wing social media creator and Change.org ambassador, it was promoted by movie star and Democratic Socialists of America supporter Mark Ruffalo on Bluesky.

However, no one has officially stepped forward to challenge Jeffries.

“This is not a foregone conclusion. 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 hope to elect the Democratic majority,” the petition continues.

The party is set to elect its nominee Wednesday in a closed-door meeting, and the winner will need a simple majority of House Democrats. However, the speaker will not be elected until January, giving another candidate substantial time to build support and run against the party’s nominee on the floor. That vote will require a simple majority of members present and voting.

“We are calling on every member of the incoming 120th Congress to vote against Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker in January 2027 and choose a different candidate. To Democratic members of The House of Representatives: If you believe you can better represent the priorities of the Democratic voters, now is the time to put your name forward,” the petition concludes.

One progressive member, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., has gained the support of over 100,000 people to run for the top role, and she seems to be making a case for herself to run as well.

Another petition, titled “Make Ayanna Pressley the Speaker of the House,” has gathered over 100,000 signatures. The Coalition for Speaker Ayanna Pressley started the petition on Change.org and describes itself as “progressive activists from across the country dedicated to electing” the lawmaker to lead them.

It is unclear whether the group is officially associated with the congresswoman; however, there is a link to donate to two incoming progressive freshmen in the House, Angela Gonzales-Torres of California and Don Leonard of Ohio.

“We believe that as Speaker of the House, Ayanna Pressley would bring her innovative spirit and unwavering resolve to tackle the pressing challenges facing our nation,” the petition reads.

“Her ability to foster meaningful conversations and build bridges across the political aisle makes her uniquely qualified for this pivotal role. In a divided Congress, her role as a fair and balanced leader will be crucial in driving bipartisanship legislation that addresses the needs of all Americans.”

This week, Pressley asked her supporters to sign on and endorse “Ayanna’s Agenda,” what the Democrat majority would fight for if it were up to her. Her list included advancing “Medicare for All,” national abortion protections, stopping data centers, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A real shake-up is still possible, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saw Thursday night when Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced he was challenging him for Senate majority leader.

“We’re going to continue to talk to every single member of the House Democratic caucus, both current members and incoming members, about what we all can do together for the American people,” Jeffries told reporters Thursday.

“We’re going to work hard to secure the 218 votes that are necessary. It’s in the hands of the caucus right now. We’ll have a conversation as a caucus next Wednesday when the leadership elections begin,” Jeffries said.

AUTHOR

Virginia Grace McKinnon

Virginia Grace McKinnon is a journalism fellow for the Daily Signal. Follow on X virginiagmck.

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