Scoop: House Democrats face growing 2025 leadership battles
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Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
House Democrats are already twisting colleagues' arms in hopes of securing leadership positions if their party wins the majority on Nov. 5.
Why it matters: Openings for ambitious Democrats could become scarce after a relatively young leadership cohort led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) took over in 2022.
- The latest development: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) has been reaching out to colleagues about running for Caucus Leadership Representative, which represents members who have served five terms or less, Axios has learned.
- Garcia is currently Democrats' freshman class president and has served as a campaign co-chair for the Biden and Harris campaigns – making headline as a loyal and indefatigable defender of both candidates.
State of play: Jeffries is viewed as a shoe-in for speaker, with current Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) likely to move up to majority leader and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) to majority whip.
- Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) would likely run to replace Aguilar as chair, while Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) will run for assistant speaker, sources said — heading off a battle over the caucus chairmanship that some lawmakers had been anticipating.
Zoom in: Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) both plan to run for Democratic Caucus vice chair should Lieu run for chair, sources familiar with their plans told Axios.
- Jacobs is Democrats' current Caucus Leadership Representative, while Kelly is a former chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.
- Kelly has already been talking to colleagues to secure support for her run, sources familiar with the matter told Axios.
- One lawmaker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios they have already committed to supporting Kelly. Jacobs' and Kelly's plans were first reported by Punchbowl News.
Reality check: The jockeying hinges on whether Democrats win the majority — a major "if" with the battle for the House basically a toss-up less than three weeks out from Election Day.
- A source familiar with Garcia's plans, for instance, stressed that he does not plan to formally announce anything until after the election.
- Any Democratic margin of control is likely to be in the single digits — meaning that, despite Jeffries' skill at keeping his caucus unified, no speakership bid can truly be considered a lock.
- Democrats have not yet set the date for their leadership elections.
