Exclusive: Activists call for Pressley to launch House speaker bid against Jeffries

Pressley was in “active conversations with Leader Jeffries about how to leverage this majority, meet the moment, and deliver for the people,” according to a spokesperson. House Democrats are all but certain to elect House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as their speaker designate next week. There could still be some turbulence, though, with progressive activists calling for Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., to launch a bid against Jeffries.

Ricardo Sanchez, a Pressley spokesperson, said she was in “active conversations with Leader Jeffries about how to leverage this majority, meet the moment, and deliver for the people. She is aware of and appreciates the groundswell of support from people in her district and across the country lifting up her leadership.” Most Democrats don’t believe Pressley will actually launch a bid ahead of next week’s leadership elections. She’s privately denied interest in running to other lawmakers, according to people familiar with her comments, and she hasn’t laid the groundwork for a bid by sounding out support from other lawmakers.

House Democrats are staring down brewing fights as younger lawmakers jostle for power and influence ahead of the party assuming its largest majority in decades. Once their leadership slate is set, the caucus will weigh major changes like implementing term limits, shaking up panel leaders, and standing up select committees on controversial policy issues. “We can have the fight about how many terms should be the limit, but I think the time is right — with all these new members coming into the caucus — to set some limits,” said Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt.

At the “What’s Next” conference on Friday, Jeffries said discussion about term limits was the “right conversation to have.” And Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., launched an effort this morning to change the seniority system for subcommittee leadership positions. Jeffries and Democratic leaders could face an influx of new members who aren’t as beholden to caucus traditions when it comes to picking leaders based on seniority.

“I think it’s going to be important for the Democratic Caucus to make sure that the voices of this large, energetic, new class of members are included at the table, and in general, I think we, as a party and as a Congress, are healthier when we allow for new perspectives and more renewal,” said Rep.-elect Luke Bronin, who’s coming to office after unseating a longtime Democratic incumbent. Democrats are also weighing the future of the select panel on China and whether to stand up a select committee on AI. Some Democrats have argued for changing the China committee, keeping it as is, or sunsetting it altogether. Top House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrat Rep.

Greg Meeks, D-N.Y., who is close to Jeffries, has advocated for folding the China committee into his panel, and for standing up a separate Foreign Affairs subpanel on AI and chips. Doing so could set off a turf war with other powerful committee leaders.