Petition Against Jeffries Becoming House Speaker Passes One Million Signatures; Organiser's Paid Role Draws Scrutiny
An online petition urging House Democrats not to elect Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker passed one million signatures on November 7. Axios reported on November 6 that Democratic House offices were being flooded with calls and emails demanding they not pick Jeffries.
The petition, titled 'House Democrats: Pick a New Speaker,' was launched on Change.org on September 3 by Nicole Whitted; the platform page discloses her role as a paid ambassador. By November 9-10, Democracy Now put the signature count at about 1,114,836. A separate petition calling for both Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to step down has gathered more than 68,000 signatures.
Critics have questioned whether such campaigns amount to astroturfing, with the organiser's paid role part of the dispute. Some incoming progressive members have not committed to backing Jeffries, while New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly supported him.
Jeffries remains the overwhelming favourite to become Speaker. The House Democratic leadership vote is set for November 19, with the full House Speaker vote on January 3, 2027.
(Source: Axios)
Source: Axios
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：众议院民主党领袖 Hakeem Jeffries 在众议院发表讲话（资料图）。美国政府作品，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons，本站档案图复用。 / Photo: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaking in the House of Representatives (file photo). U.S. government work, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, GSM archive reuse.
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