Nov 13, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Jeffries tells House Democrats he owns 2024 election loss

Andrew Solender

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, wearing a blue suit and waving his hand. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigns for Democrat Laura Gillen in Hempstead, N.Y. on Oct. 17, 2024. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday conceded to his members that Democrats are unlikely to win back the House and took responsibility for the outcome, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The Democratic leader's comments to a closed-door caucus meeting come after several House progressives told Axios they would like him to answer for the election outcome.

Several also said they wanted Jeffries – who, until Wednesday, had maintained that Democrats still had a realistic shot at winning a majority – to acknowledge the party is on track to fall short of that goal.

What we're hearing: Speaking about the 2024 House election, Jeffries told House Democrats that "the buck stops with me," according to four sources familiar with his remarks.

One House Democrat in the room told Axios that Jeffries said "there is a mathematical 'possibility' we could still take the majority, but not a 'probability.'"
The lawmaker described the tone of the speech as "responsible" but not apologetic, adding that "everyone shouted 'no' when he accepted total responsibility but he was steadfast and classy."

State of play: Republicans are on the cusp of clinching another two years in the majority, with 216 seats to Democrats' 207.

The GOP needs 218 for a majority, and they lead in six out of 11 uncalled races.

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Jeffries tells House Democrats he owns 2024 election loss

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