Hakeem Jeffries Heckled at Democratic Event as He Vies for Speaker Role - Newsweek

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was heckled by protesters in Denver on Friday as Democrats gathered to chart the party’s path forward in the new Congress.

The disruption came as Jeffries vies for the House speakership after overwhelming Democratic success in the November 3 midterm elections, when the party won control of the House and Senate. Jeffries has not drawn a formal challenger for the role, but he has faced pushback from parts of the party’s progressive wing over his support for Israel and ties to the political action committee AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), among other concerns. Some incoming lawmakers have also stopped short of backing his speakership bid.

While Jeffries was on stage discussing how the new Congress should move forward, a protester yelled: "You are a f****** liar!" The protester then shouted for more than a minute to a chorus of boos from the crowd. He continues to shout as he is removed from the facility.

When the moderator commented on how Jeffries remained composed during the interruption, he said: "Remember, ya'll, I grew up in Brooklyn."

Once the protester was removed, the conversation continued.

The disruption unfolded at the What’s Next conference, where Democratic leaders, strategists and newly elected lawmakers are gathering to consider how the party should use its new congressional majorities and position itself for 2028. The summit has also put questions about the party’s future leadership and ideological direction front and center.

The conference comes days before Democrats are expected to hold internal leadership elections on November 18, when Jeffries is expected to remain the overwhelming favorite for speaker. If elected by the full House when the new Congress convenes in January, he would become the first Black speaker in U.S. history.

No formal challenger has emerged against Jeffries despite mounting pressure from some corners of the Democratic Party. Jeffries succeeded Nancy Pelosi as the party’s House leader in January 2023. Since then, he has faced criticism from progressives over the party’s response to President Donald Trump and over his support for Israel. A petition calling for new Democratic leadership has attracted more than 1.1 million signatures, but so far that opposition has not produced a lawmaker willing to challenge him.

The absence of a challenger to Jeffries stands in contrast to the fight unfolding among Senate Democrats. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced Thursday that he would challenge current Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York for majority leader, turning broader calls for new Democratic leadership into a formal contest. Van Hollen has already won support from independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, though Schumer has said he has the votes to retain his leadership position.

The speaker presides over the House of Representatives and serves as the leader of its majority party, helping set the legislative agenda and guide bills through the chamber.

The position is particularly powerful because the speaker has significant influence over which legislation reaches the floor for a vote and plays a central role in negotiations with the Senate and White House.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Dave Siminoff.