# Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 13, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038 "2026-09-13T16:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/43 "2026-09-15T13:40:55Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > And no when 3/4 plus of the country doesn’t like your party, you can’t just blame the media. Well, half the country doesn’t like my party because they like the Republicans more, so the idea that we can win them over by embracing even further left candidates and policies is lunacy. > [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > The media didn’t make Jeffries have a secret meeting with Jarod Kushner. No, common sense did. Jeffries is trying to push through bills to make the lives of Americans better, and yeah, that means getting some Republicans on board. > [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > The media didn’t make Jeffries refuse to endorse Mamdani until very late in the process. When did Jeffries endorse Mamdani and how does that compare to when in the election Pelosi endorsed Adams when he ran? (Note to mods, I’m not making this about prior Speakers, I’m just saying that in order to make the claim that Jeffries waited until very late in the process to endorse, you should show that he waited an unusually long period of time compared to other NYC mayoral races, and Jeffries wasn’t Speaker during the prior NYC mayoral race). The fact is that prior speakers _did not endorse_ the Democratic candidate for NYC mayor. So the idea that there was bias against Mamdani is exactly the sort of manufactured media narrative I was referring to. > [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > And yeah sorry should have been clearer, but I am talking about ideology diversity. The progressive wing is a large chunk of the party. Are they? I think that depends entirely on what you mean by “Progressive”. If you just mean “left wing Democrat who believes in social justice, universal healthcare, etc” then Hakeem Jeffries _is_ a Progressive; he was a member of the Progressive caucus and he only left because he was elected Speaker. So he IS a representative of the 40% or so of Democratic reps who are Progressives by that definition. But your examples were AOC and Mamdani, two politicians who are in fact Democratic Socialists. That’s an entirely different political group, and a vanishingly small one in the Democratic party; if what you’re looking for is more DSA representation, I strongly oppose that. If they want more say, they can do what Bernie does, and run as independents before caucusing with the Democrats once elected. At least that’s honest. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/44 "2026-09-17T00:32:25Z")
but as we have seen, voters respond to sound-bites ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/45 "2026-09-17T00:33:42Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > voters respond to sound-bites I’m sure that’s why they do it. But, it can come off as very unauthentic and that’s the kiss of death. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/46 "2026-09-17T00:37:06Z")
did it stop Trump, or is he too charismatic ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/47 "2026-09-17T01:14:35Z")
Trump was authentic. He didn’t speak in focus group soundbites. He has many terrible qualities, but being unauthentic turns out to not be one of them. I don’t consider him charismatic, but that’s subject to debate I guess. Jeffries can be an effective speaker. I like him. I just cringe sometimes when he’s clearly parroting something a consultant wrote for him. ---
**Author:** ![StringsandHammers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stringsandhammers/32/17933_2.png) [@StringsandHammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StringsandHammers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/48 "2026-09-17T09:35:44Z")
I don’t see the point in even having this discussion, Jeffries will be Speaker unless he decides of his own accord he doesn’t want the job. The 800 pound gorilla in the room is that Hakeem Jeffries is a black man. In fact, he may very well become the first black speaker of the house. If the dems were to select another Speaker of the House after Jeffries kept dems united through the worst of the Trump years, the optics would be really bad. Usually when the minority party gains control of the house the minority party leader becomes the Speaker automatically, re-writing the SOP just to stop the first black man from becoming Speaker would be very bad optics. If Jeffries wants the job then it would be really, really wise to let him have it… Alternatively it would be really, really unwise to select a white man in his place. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/49 "2026-09-17T15:07:45Z")
~28% of the country is registered republican, not 50%. Now there people who are basically republican but not registered, but maybe that gets you to 35/40 percent. You win over everyone else you win by a landslide. It is not the Republican’s fault that independents don’t like you. Jarod Kushner has no political office. Working with him validates the Trump disrespect for our political institutions. Jeffries specifically avoided endorsing Mamdani for months after he won the primary despite being directly asked about it numerous times. If you have sites of Pelosi being asked about endorsing Adams and refusing then we can make a comparison. Progressive might not be quite the right term here, but maybe better to say change agents. I think this new polling from Cook political is interesting on swing districts. > **[New Battleground District Poll Shows Democrats Up, Voters Eager for Sweeping...](https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/survey-research/battleground-district-project/new-battleground-district-poll-shows)** > > A new Battleground District Project poll of the most competitive House districts in the country finds Democrats in a strong position to flip control of the chamber this fall. It also finds an electorate eager to see a new Congress do more than simply... Everyone is unpopular, but the Democrats gain ground because they are a little less disliked. But what voters, particularly independents want are candidates that overhaul the political system and not just ones who are checks on Trump. I have not seen that capability in Jeffries leadership to push for those big changes. _"When asked which candidate they would prefer to vote for — one who served as a check on Trump, one who would work with Trump, or one who will focus on changing the political system overall — a plurality of voters (43%), including 59% of independents, picked the candidate focused on overhauling the political system. "_ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/50 "2026-09-17T18:06:46Z")
> [@StringsandHammers](#): > > Jeffries will be Speaker unless he decides of his own accord he doesn’t want the job. No, the Dems can elect another, if they so choose. ---
**Author:** ![StringsandHammers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stringsandhammers/32/17933_2.png) [@StringsandHammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StringsandHammers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/51 "2026-09-17T18:54:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, the Dems can elect another, if they so choose Agree, it could technically be done but the optics will be really - really bad. In the modern era the minority leader almost always gets the Speaker’s job upon gaining the majority. It’s what is expected though not guaranteed. Skipping over the first black Speaker of the House for like reasons would not go over well. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/52 "2026-09-17T19:32:33Z")
I don’t know about Jeffries, but I’d sure like to see Cory Booker as head ass-kicker in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/53 "2026-09-17T22:08:47Z")
> [@StringsandHammers](#): > > Agree, it could technically be done but the optics will be really - really bad. I agree. It will not be done unless something weird happens. > [@Chefguy](#): > > I don’t know about Jeffries, but I’d sure like to see Cory Booker as head ass-kicker in the Senate. Too much of a loose cannon ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/54 "2026-09-17T22:21:24Z")
Moderating: Let’s stick to Jeffries in this thread. Booker is a separate issue and should be in a separate thread. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/55 "2026-09-19T12:16:30Z")
It’s not going to work very well. But he may be able to function for a year. With nothing achieve (due to Trump and SC) he will have to hand it to a new face after 2028 election. ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/56 "2026-09-20T08:48:54Z")
I think this points to one big problem. Change agents aren’t a monolith. Everyone wants things, that doesn’t mean they’re actually happy when they get them, or are even have a connection between the policy victory and something larger in their lives they want to fix. Or it may not even have a specific policy, it may just be a vibes based “the system has to change” which is exactly the kind of person you can’t take directives from because they do not understand “the system”, they just have ennui. So many things that drive hatred of Democratic leaders like Jeffries are because he is obligated to serve the interests of his entire coalition. So there is very little bespoke public policy. It’s policy built to accommodate your most vulnerable seats. Because the speaker’s job depends on keeping the majority. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038/57 "2026-09-21T13:45:01Z")
That is all very fair and it isn’t an easy job particularly once you are the majority and have more power to actually change things. But you if you don’t stand for anything, voters will think what is the point. You need to pick your spots and find things with broad agreement throughout the party, but sometimes you will upset some voters in the process. That can be the better option than having everyone think you are just useless. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hakeem-jeffries-as-speaker/1033038.md?page=2)