Democrat sidesteps Hakeem Jeffries in debate with GOP foe
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 27. Photo: Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The Democratic nominee in a special House election in New Jersey repeatedly dodged questions on Wednesday about whether she would support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for speaker.
Why it matters: As Axios has repeatedly documented, many Democrats running for Congress have shied away from firmly committing to support Jeffries' leadership amid grassroots frustration with the party establishment.
- Mejia, in an interview with Axios shortly after winning her February primary, said she hadn't spoken with the Democratic leader yet and looked "forward to sharing my concerns."
- Several weeks later she told Semafor she "since talked with Leader Jeffries" and said she wants "work in close partnership with the leader — with, obviously, whoever ultimately gets elected, which I believe will be Leader Jeffries."
Driving the news: Asked during a debate with her Republican opponent Joe Hathaway whether Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have articulated a plan to tackle rising costs, Mejia evaded.
- "I think the American people are articulating the plan they want that will make their lives more affordable," she said, without referencing either of the two leaders in her answer.
- Pressed later on the specific question of whether she would endorse Jeffries for speaker, Mejia said it is her "intention to support a leader that is going to fight for working-class families."
Mejia came closest to supporting Jeffries when, pressed a third time, she said he "has taken a bold stance on making sure that we fight DHS and stop the terror that ICE is running across our communities."
- "I think he can be a bold leader that will stand up for working families," she said.
- Then she quickly pivoted, saying that "the bottom line here is that it's not politics as usual."
- A Jeffries campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The other side: Hathaway, for his part, said he would support House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), arguing that he has an "incredibly difficult" role.
- "I certainly don't agree with everything Mike Johnson's done or everything he stands for, but that doesn't mean the results aren't there," he added.
- Hathaway went after Mejia for her ambivalence on Jeffries, saying she is "not only unwilling to come across the aisle and work with Republicans, she won't work with moderates in her own party if they don't support her radical vision for the future."
