Dem House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday rejected a Democratic National Committee big’s controversial plan to fund primary challenges against passive party members in safe districts.
Jeffries of New York instead touted his intent to back all House Democratic incumbents across the country in the 2026 cycle and push the party to focus on knocking off Republicans.
“I look forward to standing behind every single Democratic incumbent, from the most progressive to the most centrist and all points in between,” Jeffries told ABC News’ “This Week” when asked about the opposing stance by Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman David Hogg.
“They’re working hard in their communities, rising to the occasion,” Jeffries said of Dem incumbents.
Last week, Hogg, who has been serving as one of three DNC vice chairs since February, announced that his organization, “Leaders We Deserve,” will pump out $20 million to challenge low-key House Dem incumbents in favor of more combative contenders.
Hogg intends to refrain from meddling in contests in battleground district primaries so that Democrats can prioritize winning there.
His move has alienated many Democrats who feel it’s inappropriate for someone in his position to meddle in primaries.
Typically, leaders at the DNC and Republican National Committee are expected to remain neutral in primary contests rather than put their thumb on the scale.
But Hogg has argued that many Democrats “are asleep at the wheel” and are “not meeting the moment,” which is why he wants to intervene in primaries, something that DNC Chairman Ken Martin has not endorsed.
Jeffries, when pressed about Hogg, responded, “I’m going to really focus on trying to defeat Republican incumbents so we can take back control of the House of Representatives and begin the process of ending this national nightmare that’s being visited upon us by far-right extremism.”
Democrats are hoping to retake the House in 2026. Republicans currently have a 220 to 213 majority, with the two vacant seats in Democratic stronghold districts. Historically, the minority party has a very strong showing in the first midterm election of a presidential administration.
“We’re going to continue to make clear that the cost of living in the United States of America is too high,” Jeffries said of his party’s message. “Donald Trump and Republicans promised to lower the cost of living. In fact, on Day One, costs aren’t going down. They are going up.”
Later on in the show, Hogg defended his plans to target safe-seat incumbent Democrats, arguing, “We have to be a party that doesn’t have a 27 percent approval rating from our own base.”
Former acting DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile urged him to be cautious.
“Many of them are seats that women and minorities finally had an opportunity to come and sit in because there were no seats at the table for us,” she warned during a panel on “This Week.” “So before you start wiping clean the menu and the plates and the seats, be very careful.”
Hogg argued that Democrats need to elect stronger lawmakers to Congress.
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