Incoming U.S. Rep. Don Leonard (D-Ohio) said on social media that top House Democrats threatened him if he doesn’t support Hakeem Jeffries for House Speaker.
In a video posted to social media on November 9, Leonard said he met with some senior House Democrats for dinner, where he says he was met with threats to support Jeffries or face consequences.
“Tonight I met with senior members of the Democratic House who told me in no uncertain terms the decision as to whether or not I support Jeffries regardless of his willingness to speak with me and meet the interests of my constituents on a couple of key issues,” he said in a video posted to Instagram. “It would basically mean both making my life a living hell for the next two years here in Washington, as well as being sure to lose my election in two years.”
Leonard didn’t name the Democrats who said this to him. Jeffries’ office didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Leonard said he knew tactics like this were coming and that it was like “something you see out of the movies.”
“It’s part of the stuff you see in the movies,” said Leonard. “It’s a whole other thing when it’s in person, by people who actually care about you and are cheering for you but expect you to wear the team jersey and be a good team player.”
Leonard defeated Rep. Mike Carey in Ohio’s 15th district to flip the seat in Democrats’ favor.
He told Joy Reid that he would not vote for Jeffries unless the Democratic leader commits to addressing his demands on Israel and campaign finance.
“So unless Speaker Jeffries is willing to commit to enforcing our nation’s laws, like the Leahy Law, against Israeli genocide in Gaza; unless the speaker is willing to get to the heart of this crisis, which is Citizens United, he will not have my vote,” the incoming lawmaker said in a clip he also posted on his social media.
Very few Democrats have committed to not supporting Jeffries, but high-profile progressives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), have pledged their support.
“At the end of the day, the ‘big-D’ Democratic Party needs some ‘little-d’ democracy and I’m just a stubborn S.O.B.,” Leonard said.
