“I’m really vibing with my class,” said Don Leonard, a Democratic representative-elect from Ohio, regarding his incoming cohort of House members.
The city planning professor, who defeated Republican incumbent Mike Carey in last Tuesday’s midterm elections, has emerged as a disruptive force within the Democratic caucus before his official swearing-in, Axios reported.
Leonard has publicly signaled his intent to challenge House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) over his pro-Israel positions. The day after the election, Leonard told his local CBS affiliate he would be “shopping for a new leader” unless Jeffries shifts his stance.
On Tuesday, Leonard posted a video to social media claiming he met with “senior members” who warned him that opposing Jeffries for speaker would make his life a “living hell” and jeopardize his reelection chances, Axios reported.
When asked about the video at a press conference, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said, “I don’t know what senior Democrats he’s talking about.”
Aguilar added that he expects Jeffries to be “overwhelmingly selected” as speaker.
In a subsequent interview with Axios on Tuesday, Leonard characterized that conversation as “friendly” and “well-intentioned,” noting the senior members advised him that the leader sets the agenda. Beyond his stance on U.S. aid for Israel, Leonard is pushing for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to ban super PACs.
“The time for half-measures is over,” Leonard told Axios.
Leonard also expressed frustration with the House Democratic seniority system, which he argued hinders freshman members from securing seats on influential committees. He said that the current hierarchical structure makes the caucus appear “less democratic than the Republican Party.”
Despite his public challenges to leadership, Leonard met with Jeffries on Tuesday and arranged for their staffers to work out a time to sit down and talk. He requested a private meeting to discuss his concerns, telling Axios he wants to “look him in the eye” and emphasize that his constituents expect action on the crises they face.
According to wavebrowsernews.com, Leonard’s approach highlights a growing tension between fresh populist energy and traditional House leadership as the 120th Congress forms.
“I’m going to hope that I can persuade him in the six minutes that we don’t have to cross that bridge, but my constituents aren’t bluffing and neither am I,” Leonard told Axios.
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