Dems House Control RUNS Through New York
Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader in the house, emphasized that he could become a speaker by way of his native state of New York.
With 220 seats to the Democrats’ 212 in the House of Representatives, Republicans hold a razor-thin majority. Jeffries concluded that four or five competitive seats in the Empire State might decide the outcome.
“You know what’s interesting, here in New York, we have 4 or 5 seats that are in play. We can win the House back in New York state alone, another five in California, and then, of course, others spread out all across the country,” Jeffries told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Wednesday.
During the 2022 midterm elections, the New York Court of Appeals invalidated the congressional map produced by Democrats, dealing a blow to their ambitions to redistrict in the Empire State. A new map was then ordered to be drawn.
Democrats’ attempts to circumvent the Independent Redistricting Commission that year prompted that judgment.
The temporary map put Democrats from Empire State on collision courses with one another. In the end, Republicans were able to flip four House seats. One of those, gained by the dishonest former congressman from Long Island, George Santos, has subsequently returned to the Democratic Party.
The New York Court of Appeals threw out the special master’s temporary congressional map last December and directed the Independent Redistricting Commission to draw out a new one.
Democrats now have hope that they can gain ground in House races in districts that have historically been solidly blue.
Jeffries emphasized the work being done by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in New York as part of its efforts to recapture the lower chamber.
“Regaining control of the House is crucial for ensuring that Kamala Harris, the 47th president of the United States of America, has a partner and that we can continue to accomplish significant progress,” Jeffries emphasized.
Additionally, Democrats have been battling to retain their Senate seats. This year, they are obliged to defend 23 seats, including four held by independents, as opposed to the Republicans’ 11 seats, which puts them in a precarious defensive position.
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), who is retiring, has one of those seats, which the GOP is already favored to win.
Jeffries had a meeting with Biden following his performance in the debate against former President Donald Trump, amid the Democratic rebellion against him.
According to the Washington Post, Jeffries voiced serious worries in the secret discussion that Biden may jeopardize Democrats later in the election if he stayed on the ticket.
A Jeffries representative did not refute or confirm accounts of the meeting.
