A handful of Democratic congressional nominees have yet to say if they would support Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to continue leading the party in the next Congress.Jeffries has his eyes set on becoming the first Black speaker, as Democrats remain hopeful they will flip the House in November. Yet, the very candidates likely to hand control to Democrats are playing it quiet when it comes to Jeffries. The tension was on display in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Democrat nominee Rebecca Bennett, who likely needs to beat Rep. Tom Kean (R-NJ) if Democrats have any shot at the majority, refused to commit to voting for Jeffries before her primary win.
Likewise, Iowa’s 1st congressional Democratic nominee Christina Bohannan is also noncommittal, merely responding “I don’t know yet. I haven’t made that decision,” when asked by Punchbowl News if she would support Jeffries.
“I want to get elected first,” she continued.
Both Bennett and Bohannah come from districts labeled a toss-up by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Both seats are currently held by Republicans.
Montana’s 1st congressional Democratic nominee Sam Forstag echoed similar sentiments as Bohannan. Forstag sits in a seat labeled “likely Republican,” but has no incumbent running.
