Mar 14, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Jeffries sidesteps Schumer questions amid shutdown revolt

Andrew Solender

Reps. Pete Aguilar, Hakeem Jeffries and Katherine Clark hold a press conference in a wood paneled studio in front of a row of flags. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol with Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar and Minority Whip Katherine Clark on March 14. Photo: Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) passed up several opportunities Friday to offer support for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) ahead of a vote on funding the federal government.

Why it matters: Jeffries' caucus is in open rebellion against Schumer as House Democrats pressure Senate counterparts to defy their leader and vote against Republicans' stopgap spending measure.

House Democrats are openly discussing with each other the possibility of supporting a primary challenger to Schumer and any other Democrat who votes to allow the bill to pass, Axios previously reported.
Multiple groups of House Democrats are also sending letters to Schumer voicing their strong opposition to letting the bill move forward.

Driving the news: Asked at a press conference if it is time for new leadership in the Senate, Jeffries quickly responded, "Next question."

Asked if he has lost confidence in Schumer, Jeffries again replied: "Next question."
Pressed further, Jeffries said he looks "forward to reporting back to all of you when I've had conversations" in his district over the weekend.

Zoom in: Jeffries said he and Schumer have had "repeated and private conversations throughout the week" but declined to offer details.

He made clear that House Democrats hope to persuade "undecided and undeclared" senators to vote against the funding measure.

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Jeffries sidesteps Schumer questions amid shutdown revolt

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