Bloomberg
Democratic voters' positive views of their party dropped around 12 points from 2024 to 2025, according to a Gallup poll. Meanwhile, the current Congress ranks as the second least effective at passing bills since 1973, while an AP poll shows that 53% of adults have “hardly any” confidence in the lawmaking body. Not looking great. If Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, they can shift distrust of the party and Congress through new leadership.
General distaste of the Democratic Party in recent years should push representatives to take the party in a new direction that could reignite excitement. So, should current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remain leader? No. Please, no.
A Fight Worth Having polled likely Democratic primary voters in three districts on replacing Jeffries before and after reading criticisms of his record. After hearing the criticisms, a majority of those polled in all three districts believe he should be replaced, and that his criticisms, such as his contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and his opposition to Medicare for All, are strong reasons for new leadership. He has often faced criticism for isolating the progressive wing, and recently, for meeting with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
There is a silver lining, though. New faces, like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic nominee for one of Michigan’s Senate seats, Abdul El-Sayed, are not only strong-willed, but read as authentic and passionate, and their populist messaging is incredibly enticing to blue voters. This newfound excitement is a great sign for Democrats; however, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is not known for capitalizing on what its base wants, or changing direction at all.
So, if not Jeffries, then who is up to bat? Frankly, the list is unexciting.
Katherine Clark
House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark is viewed as the top choice, behind Jeffries, to helm House Democrats. She is currently the highest-ranking woman in the party with 13 years in the House, flexing a strong legislative history prioritizing reproductive freedom and, recently, joining a movement to cut military aid to Israel. She sits in a great position, with a good relationship with most of the Democratic caucus while aligning on some issues with progressives, has leadership experience within the party, and is generally a strong communicator when criticizing the opposing party.
Though she has earned some criticism for accepting corporate campaign funding and the amount of money she has invested in individual stocks. However, by comparison, she could be a step up. She will likely run a similar playbook as Jeffries, just without his baggage.
Pete Aguilar
Rep. Pete Aguilar is the chair of the House Democratic Caucus and has been involved in major battles against the Republican Party. For example, he sat on the House Select January 6th Committee, where he focused on how Trump pressured officials to overturn election results.
On the other hand, he is, frankly, not an exciting pick. He is a pretty standard establishment Democrat, which will hurt his ability to unite the progressive and centrist wings of the party. He would have centrist Democratic support, but that may be it. If Democrats want an establishment Democrat to maintain the status quo, pick Jeffries or Clark.
Suzan DelBene
Suzan DelBene currently is the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In recent years, she has focused on fighting rampant Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions by opposing funding.
Earlier this year, DelBene was at the center of a rare public, intra-party controversy regarding a DCCC attempt to prop up a specific candidate in a Democratic primary. Some House Democrats accused DelBene, and the DCCC, of tipping the scale in favor of their preferred candidate.
After this, DelBene’s has a negative chance of being selected, and she has virtually no ability to unite centrists and progressives; her position within the party is unsteady at best. It is not saying much, but for these reasons, it's Jeffries over DelBene.
Ted Lieu
Rep. Ted Lieu currently serves as the Democratic caucus vice-chair and would be an interesting pick. He is incredibly popular among moderate Democratic voters for his consistent media appearances attacking Republicans in televised hearings. This popularity alone puts him above Jeffries; a combative Democrat at the helm could raise party confidence. He compliments the progressive Democratic wing on many issues while still operating within the within the establishment, putting him in the best position to unite both sides. However, like many within the party, he is criticized by some progressives for his support of Israel.
Pramila Jayapal
Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Emerita Rep. Pramila Jayapal is a shot-in-the-dark pick. Democrats need to adopt a new, ideally populist, playbook, and Jayapal could signal to voters that they are trying to adapt to the evolving political landscape. She is incredibly popular among progressives, but often clashes with moderates, making her a less likely pick, at best. Still, it would be an exciting pick.
Ranking
There are not many great options among these picks. However, Democrats need to show they are willing to adapt, and pushing Jeffries out could be the first step in getting voters’ attention.
This is not a popular perspective, but Jayapal may be the strongest choice. Her selection would likely excite voters, similar to El-Sayed and Mamdani. She would struggle to bridge the gap with centrists and progressives, but that may work in her favor among unhappy Democratic voters. Jayapal’s biggest downside would be her inevitable struggle to provide a united party to negotiate legislation. It is definitely a gamble, but a big swing could help in future elections as well.
Next up is the most likely pick, Clark. She overtakes Jeffries as a liaison between progressives and moderates, and has led major battles in the House, such as the push to end the Iran war. Clark is often highlighted by other House members as someone who could bring “order” to the party.
Then Lieu. He has taken a pretty big hit regarding his popularity among progressives for his support of Israel, yet still likely be more effective than Jeffries in uniting the party and combating House Republicans. His selection would usher in a stable, but combative party.
DelBene and Aguilar are both, frankly, bad picks. They do not change the party’s direction, which is what Democrats need. Keeping Jeffries would more beneficial for the party, since at least he has leadership experience.
Realistically, Jeffries is set to be the next speaker. The disjointed Democrats would likely struggle to unite to secure enough votes for another candidate, but a big swing in a new direction could be exactly what they need.
