Newly elected Democrat says party allies threatened him over a vote for Jeffries, and the warning included a 2028 ouster

Don Leonard won Ohio’s 15th Congressional District on Nov. 3. He defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey in a district that Donald Trump had carried by 10 points. On Tuesday, the incoming Democrat said members of his own party had threatened to make his life “a living hell” unless he backed Hakeem Jeffries for speaker without conditions.

In a social media post and video, Leonard said senior House Democrats told him to vote for Jeffries even if the Democratic leader does not commit to addressing certain key issues. He said the warnings included ousting him in 2028. Drop Site News, which first published Leonard’s account, described the people pressing him as allies of Jeffries.

Leonard’s conditions were specific. He wanted a House vote on a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, plus an end to U.S. support for the Iran war and for Israel. Before Tuesday, he had already told a local outlet he would be “shopping for a new leader” if Jeffries did not change his pro-Israel stance.

House Democrats prepare for secret-ballot leadership elections as outside calls and petitions urge alternatives

Democrats won the House majority on Nov. 3. Jeffries, who has led House Democrats since 2022 and would be the first Black speaker, formally launched his bid on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in a letter to colleagues.

The House Democratic Caucus is reported to hold its leadership elections, including its speaker nominee, by secret ballot on Nov. 18 and 19, where a simple majority wins the nomination. The full House votes on Jan. 3, 2027, when 218 votes are needed. Rhode Island’s two House members, Reps. Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner, both reelected Nov. 3, will be among the Democrats casting those caucus ballots.

Jeffries remains the heavy favorite. Rep. Jim Himes told Axios that Jeffries “absolutely will be speaker.” Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar said the caucus would deliver votes for Jeffries, according to Drop Site, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said a contested race would be “a different situation.”

Outside the Capitol, the pressure has run the other way. More than a dozen lawmakers and aides told Axios that offices were fielding calls and emails urging members not to elect Jeffries. Individual offices reported about 150 calls, 300 to 400, about 300, about 50, and, for one senior Democrat, “over 500” in two days.

One House Democrat said the outreach was largely driven by actor Mark Ruffalo, who posted on X on Nov. 5, urging people to sign a petition if they wanted a new speaker.

That petition, “House Democrats: CHOOSE A NEW SPEAKER,” was created on Change.org on Sept. 3. It had 1,094,983 signatures as of Monday, and its page has since displayed 1,120,114 verified signatures.

It urges members to review Jeffries’s “public record, policy positions, campaign donor record and leadership” and to choose someone else. A separate Change.org petition, “A Fresh Start,” created Nov. 5, opposes Jeffries specifically over his support for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.

The Israel record behind that objection is concrete. On July 15, the House rejected an amendment from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie to cut about $3.3 billion in security aid to Israel, 104-314.

Democrats split nearly down the middle: 103 voted yes, 98 voted no and 10 voted present. Jeffries voted no. AIPAC and J Street both endorsed him. On Oct. 21, AIPAC announced it would stop issuing endorsements, making direct PAC contributions and earmarking funds for candidates, while its affiliated super PAC continues.

The group told NPR its members gave more than $90 million directly to candidates this cycle. Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez, lead sponsor of the Block the Bombs Act, which would bar certain weapons transfers to Israel unless conditions set by Congress are met, said she has had initial talks with Jeffries about floor action and did not get a direct no. Meanwhile, a new progressive wave could threaten Jeffries’s unbeaten speaker-vote streak.

The frustration is not confined to the House. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Nov. 4, “I’ll be reelected as majority leader.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has urged colleagues to “withhold commitments” until Schumer outlines his vision, though he has said running for leader is “not my focus.” Indivisible launched a “No Schumer Coronation” campaign.

The Senate Democratic leadership vote is likely to take place in December. An Economist/YouGov poll taken Oct. 23–26 found 26% of Americans approved of Jeffries and 47% disapproved; Schumer stood at 24% approval and 54% disapproval.

Among Democrats, Schumer drew 38% approval and 42% disapproval. In a June 2025 Reuters/Ipsos poll, 62% of Democrats agreed that “the leadership of the Democratic Party should be replaced with new people.”

A survey of 4,308 members of the progressive group Our Revolution found 72% wanted new Senate leadership and 52% wanted new House leadership. Asked Monday about the caucus vote, Jeffries offered reporters little beyond a shrug of confidence: “I guess we’ll find out.”