Moderate Democrats reject Hakeem Jeffries leadership challenges from left

Moderate Democrats in the House of Representatives have pushed back against far-left segments of their base, rejecting arguments that their party leaders in the House should be replaced because they cannot effectively oppose President Donald Trump.

The challenges for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Mass.) and Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) are more visible than tangible, moderates told Fox News Digital.

“They want to see loud screams and protests,” Rep. George Latimer, D-N.Y., said of the challengers.

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“They are responding to the showtime nature of the convention.”

Last week, Clark faced a primary challenge from Jonathan Paz, a candidate of Bolivian descent who argued that Democratic leadership had become ineffective.

“I’m challenging one of the most powerful Democrats in the House because we need new leadership. Let’s call it what. Our Democratic leaders are failing us. They’re not stopping Trump; they’re not making life more affordable. They’re not building a party for the working class,” Paz said. campaign video.

Paz said his father was deported when he was 14.

Clark’s challenge follows a similar challenge from Jeffries, the House’s No. 1 Democrat. Chi Ossé, a progressive-leaning New York city councilman, decided to run against Jeffries, citing dissatisfaction with his resistance to the administration.

“A more extraordinary ‘leadership’ than our so-called ‘leader,'” Ossé said. Publish on XIt’s in reaction to reports that Jeffries and other Democrats will not pursue impeachment charges against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Ossé has since withdrawn his offer.

Although Jeffries’ opponent has since resigned, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said he believes the rumors against Jeffries and Clark are representative of a package of frustration that will continue no matter what. Moskowitz, who votes with Republicans on issues such as border security and cutting government spending, said those voters and potential rivals must decide what is most important to them.

“I think we’re on track to win the House in 2026, but on that journey Democrats will have to decide whether they want power or naivety,” Moskowitz said.

“Once we reach the majority, we can have a policy of debating purity about which way to go. But before we get there, we must seize power.”

He believes the challenges are unnecessarily divisive and pose a threat to the party’s solidarity.

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Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., speaks during a news conference on Dec. 13, 2023 in Washington. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for the Congressional Integrity Project)

“Democrats are very capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory by saying, ‘Let’s put all of our leadership at the forefront as we try to take the House,'” Moskowitz said.

Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Y), who has called on his party to move toward the political center, said he thinks these individuals should be evaluated individually and not extrapolated to represent all Democratic voters.

“I think it’s politics. Different people have different motivations. Some people want to run for office because of lifelong ambitions. Some people are unhappy with the way things are going. Some people want to try to change the world,” Suozzi said.

“I have no knowledge of these individual cases,” he added.

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Representative Tom Suozzi speaks at a news conference with other members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus on February 24, 2025 in Washington. (Nathan Posner/Anatolia via Getty Images)

Latimer also believes the challengers are wrong about the relative ineffectiveness of the Democratic leadership. He believes the party has managed to score under-the-radar victories even in the shadow of the Republican governing trio.

“You now have polling data that shows Americans understand that the shutdown is a fight over health care and that health care benefits need to be protected,” Latimer said, referring to the recent government shutdown over Obamacare federal subsidies, seemingly leaving Democrats largely empty-handed.

“That’s smart. But it’s not necessarily something someone would want [see] because he does not have a flamboyant nature,” he added.

Instead of appeasing prominent parts of the party, Latimer suggested his fellow Democrats focus on using their time in a more strategically advantageous way.

“The voters are in the middle,” Latimer said.

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“If you want to win the House, you have to win people who are not loyal to you. You have to convince them that your strategies are right. I think that’s what leadership does.”