An online petition urging the incoming U.S. Congress to reject House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries as speaker had drawn 666,025 signatures as of Nov. 6, Anadolu reported, ahead of the next House leadership vote.
Anadolu said Nicole Whitted launched the Change.org petition Sept. 3. It asks all members of the incoming 120th Congress to choose an alternative to Jeffries and calls for a competitive speaker election. The petition also urges Democratic House members to seek the nomination. Its message, as quoted by Anadolu, is “Democrats deserve a choice.”
Democrats claimed 237 House seats and also won the Senate, giving the party control of both chambers. Jeffries would become the first Black speaker of the House if elected.
Jeffries sought members-elect’s support in a Nov. 4 letter, as EconoTimes previously reported. Anadolu reported that the petition wants a speaker who represents Democratic voters instead of the party establishment.
The House is expected to elect a speaker when the 120th Congress convenes Jan. 3, 2027.
