U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged Democratic losses within the Home on Wednesday, however mentioned the celebration will push again on right-wing extremism.
Picture courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons
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Greater than per week after the final election, Republicans have cemented their majority within the Home of Representatives — that means Republicans will management the Home, the Senate, and the presidency — and Brooklyn congress member Hakeem Jeffries has reportedly taken the blame.
Jeffries, has represented components of south and Central Brooklyn in Congress since 2013 and final yr was elected Home Minority Chief, was poised to grow to be the primary Black Home Speaker if Democrats had taken again the bulk. However, on Wednesday, Republican Juan Ciscomani gained re-election in a important Arizona district, cementing the celebration’s maintain on the decrease chamber. A number of Home races nonetheless haven’t been known as, however Democrats won’t have sufficient seats to make up the deficit.
In an announcement, Jeffries mentioned Home Democrats had “overperformed” in an election that noticed huge wins for the Republican celebration. A minimum of 27 of the celebration’s 31 “frontline” incumbents have been re-elected, he mentioned, and the celebration held on in aggressive races and flipped at the very least eight districts.
“House Democrats gave it our all, running aggressive, forward-looking and people-centered campaigns,” he mentioned. “While we will not regain control of the Congress in January, falling just a few seats short, House Democrats will hold Republicans to a razor-thin majority. That is unprecedented in a so-called presidential wave election.”
Democrats flipped three districts in New York — NY-19, NY-22 upstate, and NY-4 on Lengthy Island, unseating three Republican incumbents. The celebration misplaced in NY-1, one other important district, the place Jeffries personally supported Democratic challenger John Avlon — who was defeated by greater than 100,000 votes.
With full management of Congress, Republicans have mentioned they plan to aggressively pursue Trump’s political agenda. Home Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday outlined that agenda — talking in help of border closures, an “end to wokeness and radical gender ideology,” and decrease grocery and gasoline costs.
“This leadership will hit the ground running to deliver President Trump’s agenda and the 119th Congress, and we will work closely with him and his administration to turn this country around and unleash, as he says, a new golden age in America,” Johnson mentioned. “That’s not a campaign slogan. We believe that that is true. We believe in our hearts that America’s best days are ahead of us, and we’re excited to deliver upon that promise. The only way we’re able to work quickly is because we have unified control of the Congress, both chambers now and the White House, beginning January.”
Trump’s cupboard appointments have barely difficult Republicans’ majority within the Home. Up to now, the president-elected has chosen two Republican congress members to serve in his cupboard: Elise Stefanik, from northern New York because the U.N. Ambassador, and Matt Gaetz, of Florida, because the Legal professional Common. Each nominations require Senate affirmation, however Gaetz has already resigned from his place in Congress. Each districts, nonetheless, are safely Republican, and more likely to stay that method if particular elections are known as.
Some Democrats are blaming Jeffries for celebration’s losses, per Axios, however pushed again on assertions that he was totally answerable for the end result.
“Moving forward, House Democrats will engage in a clear-eyed, candid and comprehensive family conversation about how and where to build upon the foundation that has been laid and improve on our efforts,” Jeffries mentioned. “Within the new Congress, Home Democrats will proceed to hunt bipartisan widespread floor on any difficulty, at any time when and wherever potential, to make life higher for the American folks, whereas pushing again in opposition to far proper extremism at any time when needed.
