Rep.-elect Don Leonard (D-OH) is claiming that his party’s senior representatives are threatening him to drop his stated preconditions for backing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in the upcoming speaker elections or face intraparty repercussions.
Leonard ousted incumbent Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) in last week’s midterm elections, flipping a district President Donald Trump won by 10 points in the 2024 general election.
However, Leonard stated in a video obtained and published by Drop Site News on Tuesday morning that the night prior he met with senior House Democrats, who told him “in no uncertain terms” to drop two conditions he’d stated for backing Jeffries for speaker: “Number one, getting a constitutional amendment to end Citizens United. Number two, ending U.S. support for the war in Iran and the country, Israel, that led us into it.”
Leonard claimed those House Democrats said if he maintained those conditions, the party would “both [make] my life a living hell for the next two years here in Washington” and ensure he loses his election in 2028.
“You know, we kind of knew this stuff was coming. It’s part of the stuff you see in the movies. It’s a whole ‘nother thing when you know it’s in person by people who actually care about you and are cheering for you, but expect you to wear the team jersey and be a good team player,” he continued, adding that he is still trying to set up a meeting with Jeffries to discuss his concerns.
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“We’re searching our hearts tonight as to how we can reach Leader Jeffries and help him be a better speaker. At the end of the day, the ‘big D’ Democratic Party needs some ‘little D’ democracy, and I’m just a stubborn S.O.B,” Leonard closed. “So we’ll continue meeting with our fellow members of Congress and members elect, and try and see if we can build support for what we’re trying to do here.”
Though no other House Democrat has yet to step forward and challenge Jeffries for speaker, multiple incoming Democrats have said that their offices have been inundated with constituent calls asking them not to vote for him.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
