Yikes: New Dem Rep Reveals Alleged Threats From Fellow Dems If He Doesn't Support Jeffries

There's a drama going on now with a lot of jockeying over the leadership votes for the Democrats in the House and the Senate. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), the current House Minority Leader, is up for Speaker of the House, and the current Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), wants to be the Senate Majority Leader in January. 

But the leftists, including some of the new members of Congress, have been throwing a bit of a wrench into the mix.

The latest people to abandon Schumer were Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who said he wouldn't vote for him, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

REPORTER: Are you a no on Schumer? SANDERS: “Yes” SLOTKIN: “Whoever wants my vote is gonna have to show me a concrete plan…” https://t.co/yNlzwfMIro

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 10, 2026

Slotkin said she was a "no" until she saw a "concrete and definitive plan that was different," and she recommended that people "withhold quorum" until they got that plan, if there was only going to be one candidate. 

So that's a couple more to add to the growing list of folks questioning Schumer. As we noted, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) reportedly was open to the idea of running against Schumer or using it to wrangle some concessions/agreements from Schumer. 

Meanwhile, the House situation is getting messy. According to the incoming representative from Illinois' 15th District, Don Leonard, senior Democrats threatened to make his life a "living hell" if he didn't vote for Jeffries and make sure he would lose his next election. 

I can’t believe a Democrat is already exposing his own party like this

Don Leonard, the Democrat who just won Ohio’s 15th District, says senior House Democrats warned him what happens if he won’t back Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker:

“Making my life a living heII for the next two… pic.twitter.com/882X3Lh0Tt

— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) November 10, 2026

He says they “expect you to wear the team jersey” and “be a good team player." He said the "big D" Democrat Party needed some "little D democracy" and that he was just a stubborn "SOB." 

He clarified more with TMZ, saying it was senior Democrat elected officials, not leadership, who were offering him "friendly advice" with "stark consequences." 

Incoming Rep. Don Leonard tells @jacob_wass that senior Democrats threatened him with “consequences” if he refuses to back Hakeem Jeffries for House Speaker. https://t.co/iM4MnpBfp7

— TMZ (@TMZ) November 11, 2026

The TMZ reporter said it sounded like The Godfather movies, with the threats. Leonard indicated that the "consequences" could involve committee assignments, getting legislation passed, and whether he had support to run again. He wouldn't say who these senior Democrats were. 

Reporters asked the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), about it. He denied knowing who the "senior Democrats" are. 

REPORTER: Congressman-elect Don Leonard said senior Democrats have threatened to 'make his life a living hell' if he doesn't back Jeffries. AGUILAR: "I don't know what senior Democrats he's talking about."

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 10, 2026

But Democrats are showing their true colors with things like this. Grab the popcorn; the fights between the Left and the more Left are going to be interesting. 

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