Jeffries Launches Speaker Bid, Says Democrats Aren't Discussing Trump Impeachment

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) formally launched his bid for speaker on Wednesday, a day after Democrats won a landslide in the midterm elections and took the House majority. In a letter to colleagues obtained by Axios, he made his case for the job. He is widely expected to win the gavel and would be the first African American speaker. At a press conference the same day, Jeffries said no member of the House Democratic caucus had raised impeaching President Donald Trump with him. He said the caucus was focused on affordability and accountability. On MS NOW's "Morning Joe," he said voters want results rather than retribution, and he had earlier told Fox News Sunday that lowering the cost of living was his top priority. House members are due to choose the speaker in January 2027.

Breitbart, on the right, leads with actor Mark Ruffalo promoting a petition urging House Democrats not to back Jeffries, which says the speaker should represent voters rather than the party establishment. It stresses Jeffries' long-standing support for Israel and the abuse he has drawn from the left, and its opening does not mention his impeachment comments. HuffPost and The New Republic, on the left, lead with those comments. HuffPost reports online anger, including calls to deny him the speakership and criticism from commentator Hasan Piker. The New Republic's piece is an opinion-style argument that Democrats should go further against Trump and his Cabinet. Both sides report opposition to Jeffries from the left flank, but they attribute it to different causes. Truthout's framing resembles the left's, while Axios offers a neutral account of the letter and the historic angle.