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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly welcomed a new crop of convention nominees Saturday, including three Democratic Socialists of America candidates whose victories sparked renewed debate about the Democratic Party’s leftward shift ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The powerful New York lawmaker’s position highlights the challenge facing the top House Democrat as he works to unify his party ahead of the general election. If Democrats take back the House in November, Jeffries is expected to be the next speaker. That means he will be leading a Democratic Alliance caucus with more self-identifying Democratic Socialists than ever before. So far, more than a dozen candidates supported by the Democratic Socialists of America have won or advanced to primaries across the country this election cycle.
In a post on X, Jeffries wrote, “Congratulations to our Democratic nominees,” before listing federal candidates from across New York. Among those honored were Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, all of whom are members or supporters of the Democratic Socialists of America and who scored victories in the closely watched Democratic Alliance primaries last week.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Trump’s top official Bill Pulte a “bad fit.” (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg)
From civil servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same,” Jeffries wrote. “We must face the problem of affordability and end the right-wing extremism!”
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Lander, Chevalier and Valdez all received the support of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsement cemented the growing influence of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in New York politics. Lander and Chevalier defeated incumbents endorsed by Jeffries. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat in their Democratic primaries. Jeffries he did not concede in the race won by Claire Valdez, who was an open seat.
Now, as Democrats look to the general election, he appears to be supporting the party’s nominees as they try to take back the House in November.
The candidates also faced scrutiny for stories that have resurfaced on social media, support for demobilization and anti-Israel rhetoric, positions that have put them at odds with many in the Democratic Party.
Candidates for the Socialist New York convention are Darializa Avila Chevalier (L), Claire Valdez (C) and Brad Lander. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Chevalier has faced widespread scrutiny over posts that have resurfaced on social media, including what he called “the literal end of the border.”
He also faced renewed criticism on social media from leading Democrats, including calling former President Joe Biden a “war criminal,” attacking former Vice President Kamala Harris and rebuking Seni. Bernie Sanders on Israel.
Like Chevalier, Valdez and Lander, who is Jewish, feel that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza.
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Jeffries’ decision to publicly congratulate the three nominees quickly drew criticism.
The Republican Jewish Coalition blasted Jeffries’ congratulatory message, warning Jewish voters that the candidate was not a “Democrat” but the new face of the party.
“To the Jewish Democrats: your party tells you who it is,” the Coalition wrote. “These incoming members of Congress, @hakeemjeffries welcome you with open arms, want to: End prisons and restrictions. Defund the police. Get over 9/11,” addressing some tough arguments from the candidates.
Jamie Metzl, a former National Security Council and State Department official and lifelong Democratic leader, criticized Jeffries for congratulating the nominees.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a press conference Thursday in Manhattan. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
“When I first read this post, I thought it was a spoof account. I’m very concerned that it seems like it’s all real,” Metzl wrote. “To accept these nominees without acknowledging and criticizing their self-proclaimed sympathies for US-designated terrorist organizations, their calls to abolish the police, their stated desire to dismantle Western civilization, and their apparent anti-Americanism is to sacrifice the core values of the Democratic Party.”
Metzl accused Jeffries of putting his bid to become Speaker of the House ahead of the goals of the Democratic Party.
“I understand your desire to become Speaker if the Democrats take over the House, but you should not sacrifice our party’s goals to advance your political ambitions,” Metzl wrote.
The Democratic leadership has been in the hot seat this week facing questions from the media about how to reconcile the New York strike’s support for Socialist candidates, especially after Valdez supporters showed up yelling “he’s next” on the television show Jeffries on Tuesday night.
“They’re going to eat the next Congress — and replace it with their own,” opined analyst Meghan McCain. posted on X.
“This is ridiculous,” series commentator Robby Starbuck said posted on X. “Hakeem still does not see that the communists will eat him alive. It is clear that he is not a student of history. Bless his heart.”
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On the CNN show on Friday, Jeffries said, “I think what’s happening in a few primaries in one of the greenest cities in the country is in no way indicative of what’s going to happen in November, when we need to re-elect all of the top Congressmen, reasonable Democrats, who are truly committed to making life better for the American people, against these base Republicans who are against Donald Trump.”
“And at the same time, make sure we turn the red seats into blue, including New York-17, where we have a military veteran, an incredibly patriotic American Cait Conley, who got out of primary school on Tuesday and is an incredibly strong player. She’s going to beat Mike Lawler in New York in November.”
