Jeffries backs Schumer despite Democrats' shutdown fury
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 10. Photo: Tom Brenner/Getty Images
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Monday he is standing behind his Senate counterpart, Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), despite a surge of grassroots anger towards the Senate leader.
Why it matters: Even many House Democrats are raging against Schumer for not stopping a group of centrist senators from voting to advance a deal to reopen the government.
- Democratic lawmakers and liberal groups erupted in fury Sunday over the details of the deal, which includes only the promise of a December vote on expending Affordable Care Act tax credits.
- Jeffries has publicly vowed to "fight" the deal when it reaches the House, dubbing it a "partisan Republican spending bill" at his press conference Monday.
Driving the news: Asked at the press conference whether he believes Schumer is effective and should remain as Senate Democratic leader, Jeffries replied, "Yes and yes."
- Jeffries said of the eight Senate Democrats who voted for the deal: ""I'm not gonna explain what a handful of Senate Democrats have decided to do. That's their explanation to offer to the American people."
- But he cast Schumer, who personally voted against advancing the deal, as part of the vanguard against it, saying "the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have waged a valiant fight over the last seven weeks."
Between the lines: Jeffries' members are being far less conciliatory towards the Senate Democratic leader, with progressives and centrists alike criticizing him publicly.
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) posted to X photoshopped a poster for the film "Trainwreck" with Schumer swapped in for actress Amy Schumer, the Senate leader's cousin.
- "Different Schumer, same title," he wrote on X.
What to watch: Jeffries may have his own centrist defections to deal with, with Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) speaking about the deal in positive terms.
- "This marks the most meaningful movement toward compromise in weeks," the moderate Texan wrote in a post on X.
- Asked if he will have the votes to fight the bill and whether he plans to actively whip against it, Jeffries said "we have a caucus meeting ... where that will be part of the discussion." The meeting is at 3pm ET.
- Asked if there should be consequences for Democrats who vote for it, the Democratic leader told Axios: "If you ask me a serious question I'll give you a serious answer."
