Jeffries 'Confident' In Democrats Wins In Competitive Midterm Races

We're sitting here in New York, 2022, the Republican majority comes through here, 2024. You guys claw some seats back, and it feels like this is one of the last places. I mean, for you, what does New York 17 represent? This is the MAGA extremist's last stand. In 2024, we flipped four seats that were previously won by Republicans that are now held by Democrats, and we're going to hold those seats in 2026. Mike Lawler pretends to be a common-sense Republican, but he's really just a MAGA puppet. Kate Conley is an American patriot and I'm confident she's going to flip this seat on November 3rd. I do feel like talking about New York races with you, especially ones like this, it's sort of like Michael Jordan in the documentary where he's like, and I took that personally. Like you're a New Yorker a little bit, all right? Well, we want to make sure we have the best possible representation here in the great empire state and that's what Kate Conley would represent. You know, we've written like Blue Wave, Blue Tsunami, I wonder what those phrases mean to you from a tangible number of seats gained or places that you're looking on election night to know, yeah, this is going well. I don't think about it in terms of the number of seats gained. From our perspective, we've got to do everything we can to get to a majority, that's 218, and then to win as many seats on top of that as possible. How many do you think you have on top of that? Well, we'll see. But what I am confident about is that we're going to take back control of the House. We're on our way to potentially flipping the Senate. We're going to win governorships all across the country in places that were previously unexpected. And we're going to win state legislative seats, hundreds all across America as well. I feel like this is a conversation now in the waning days before the election of unexpected places. Is there a race that has come online for you that you're like, wow, that's a sign? We're watching the races in Texas and Florida closely. The MAGA extremists gerrymandered the congressional map in Texas and gerrymandered the congressional map in Florida to try to steal from those two states nine different seats. That ain't happening on Election Day. And we're going to win several of those seats that were previously thought to be out of reach. Do you acknowledge, though, that Democrats might win the House and still have a lot of work to do to win back the trust and favor, frankly, of an American public that polls show still isn't too hot on the party? What's very interesting. As we race to the finish line, is that the American people now clearly and decisively trust Democrats on all the issues that matter. We have a trust advantage on the economy, a trust advantage on combating inflation, a trust advantage on lowering the high cost of living, a trust advantage on the war, a trust advantage on the deficit, a trust advantage overwhelmingly on health care, and a trust advantage on immigration enforcement, which we believe should be fair, just, and humane. What we're going to have to do upon winning the majority is to sustain that trust advantage by decisively acting on these issues, primarily focused on making life more affordable for everyday Americans. Do you attribute those wins, those shifts in perspective from the public to actions by Democrats or actions by the Trump administration? It's the fact that we've successfully and aggressively pushed back against MAGA extremism on issue after issue after issue. I apologize. It's not ICE overstepping. It's Democrats' response to ICE overstepping? No, it's an example of us battling them on every issue. We've battled them on ICE being out of control. We've battled them on the reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. We've battled them on the Medicaid cuts. We've battled them on the Affordable Care Act tax credits. We've battled them on the Trump tariffs. We battle them on their failures with respect to the economy, and the American people see that we're fighting hard on their behalf. You know, I think about districts like this one, Pennsylvania 1 with Brian Fitzpatrick. I mean, if those guys lose, that's good for your majority in the short term, but might be tough for a Congress that is just continuously lacking in people who will extend a hand across the aisle and work bipartisanly. I mean, do you worry about the inability for members to do that? We're working hard to win every seat because we need a Congress that actually is going to put the American people first. And be a check and balance on this out-of-control executive branch, as opposed to the Republican-controlled Congress, which has been nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump's extreme agenda. Mike Lawler. Voted for the one big ugly bill. Mike Lawler voted to rip health care away from millions of Americans Mike Lawler voted for the largest cut to SNAP in American history Mike Lawler voted in support of the Trump tariffs repeatedly and Mike Lawler has consistently voted to support Donald Trump's reckless war of choice in Iran, which has increased gas prices on everyday Americans So at the end of the day the American people want dramatic change And the only way for us to deliver that is to win back control of the House. To that degree, we've seen a lot more Democratic Socialists or DSA-aligned candidates coming into the fold. What are some of the conversations that you're having with those members who are in safe seats and are definitely coming to Congress? Because they say they've been talking to you. Yeah, I've had a conversation with every single incoming member of Congress. And we've talked about their interests, the issues that they want to work on. The committees that they'd like to serve on in order to be able to be the most effective representative for their district as possible and are... The agenda of actually trying to drive down the high cost of living, it's clear to me that what unites the House Democratic Caucus, whether those are progressives or new Dems or blue dogs, is an understanding that here in America, life is way too expensive. It's out of control. It's an unacceptable situation that people are drowning in this Trump economy and people are stressed the F out whenever they have to go to the gas station, whenever they have to go to the grocery store. Whenever they have to pay the rent, Or the mortgage. Stress the F out. That is a crazy situation in this great country of ours. And we've got to turn that around. And everyone who's on their way into the House Democratic Caucus and all of the currently serving members understand that and want to decisively do something about the affordability crisis. Those DSA candidates are also talking to you because they want to get to yes on a Speaker Jeffries. Kate Conley just called you Speaker Speaker Jeffries is there. Is that your goal? Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. You say that a lot, but every member that I've spoken to says it's going to be Speaker Jeffries. Every person that I've spoken to says this is the person who's going to lead our caucus. I mean, what's the secret? Why not say that's my goal? I'm thinking about doing it. Well, because we have to be focused on what's in front of us, and what's in front of us is November 3rd. Once we get through November 3rd, then we can focus on January 3rd, which is the first day of the new Congress. Can I ask it in the inverse? Is there a world in which you're not thinking about that bid? Well, what we're thinking about right now is winning every single seat in front of us that's competitive, including making sure we fire MAGA extremist puppet Mike Lawler. So let me talk to you in a theoretical sense, right? Because I'm struck right now that in a moment where we've seen the Supreme Court roll back Calais, try to limit the voting power and representative power of Black Americans across the country, I'm struck by the fact that that also might result in having the first Black speaker. Well, again, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. What I can say about the beauty and majesty of American democracy is that we are actually, as best we can, representative government. And that's the wonderful thing about the House of Representatives, that all of us have the opportunity to represent as authentically as possible the communities that we come from and then go down to Washington as part of the House of Representatives to try to advance the ball for the American people. To find the common ground necessary in order to get things done and to make life better. Do you ever think about the historic potential that you have, though? I mean, like, I know that it's been talked about over the course of the last few years. You made history when you became leader. Well, I'm focused right now on actually making a difference in the lives of the people that I represent and in the country and not taking our eye off the prize. John Lewis, who we all, many of us, had the honor to serve with, what a great American hero, patriot, and civic leader. He would always say, keep your eye on the prize. This would mean something to him, though. Well, it means a lot to me that I stand on his shoulders and the shoulders of so many incredible legends like Shirley Chisholm, whose district I, in part, represent. And they would all encourage us, like Shirley Chisholm, to be unbought and unbossed in the face of the type of extremism... That's been unleashed on the American people. We've got to get through this moment. We've got to win the House so we can begin the process of decisively ending this national nightmare. So let's get through the moment because there was a new bipartisan letter yesterday urging you and Speaker Johnson to basically say, yeah, we're going to have a peaceful transfer of power. Have you called the Speaker and said, hey, can we just agree as the two leaders of this House that it's going to be what it's always been for the American public? Whoever gets the most votes wins? I haven't had a conversation. about that particular letter which just came out. But generally? Generally, I've made clear to Speaker Johnson and to the Republicans, and we've said this publicly and privately, that we have to respect the will of the voters to ensure that there's a peaceful transfer of power. Whatever happens on November 3rd has to translate into who is in the majority. On January 3rd. What's he said to you when you said that? Well, Mike Johnson, you know, is not going to get into what he views as a hypothetical situation. And at the end of the day, you know, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I think the elections are going to be decisive enough that it's going to be clear that Democrats are going to be in control of the House of Representatives. We're going to see Democrats win up and down the ballot and all across the country, as we've seen repeatedly since the very beginning of the Trump administration, where we started to win Republican-held districts. As early as January of 2025. Well, and yet you look at a place like Alaska where the administration is now filing a suit. I know it's in the Senate race, but that House seat is at large there. I mean, are the actions of this administration making you more worried? I know that your caucus, the Democrats in the Senate have all been doing tabletop exercises, which is, I just think, so difficult for a reporter who's covered democracy to fathom. But we are not, it feels, if you're doing those things in normal times. We have taken the position that we, We have to do everything possible to ensure it's a free and fair election in November and that the will of the American people is brought to life. As a result, we have undertaken to put together the largest voter protection effort in the history of the country. And we believe that's absolutely necessary. We've worked with Senate Democrats. House Democrats, the Democratic Governors Association, the Secretaries of State, the Attorney Generals, and civil society. And that includes Good government groups, civil rights groups, civil liberties groups, the faith community and organized labor. Let's get into the governing piece of this, because you have always been someone in practice. People talk about you as as this kind of person, even within Democratic caucus leadership. You build consensus. That was certainly criminal justice reform during Trump won. Do you worry that Democratic voters, though, don't want to see consensus building? They don't want to see bipartisanship. I think Democratic voters... Understandably, we want to see two things happen. We have to fight as hard as we can to lower the high cost of living, combat the affordability crisis, and reduce the fact that things are way too expensive here in this country for working families, for middle-class folks, and for all those who aspire to be part of the middle class. At the same period of time, we have to deliver on an accountability agenda because the corruption that we've seen is out of control. And when you have people in government, in high office, If they're just focused on making themselves richer, enriching themselves, enriching their family members, their friends, and their donors, then they're not focused on actually delivering for the American people. We've seen unprecedented corruption unleashed on everyday Americans, and so our responsibility is to serve as a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch. You know, when I was listening to you speak at the rally, even just now, you said, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town. What does that mean, like in practice? It means that we're going to hold him accountable in the same way that we held Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem accountable. But they were kind of pushed to the side by the president. And Pete Hegseth needs to be pushed aside by the president. Or we're going to have to deal with that situation if he is not. Because there's an impeachment resolution that's going to come up in the immediate days after you guys get back from the elections. How are you thinking about that? Because it's been hanging out there for weeks, so I know you guys have talked about it in caucus. Well, we haven't had an opportunity actually to talk about it because it was short-circuited when Speaker Johnson and House Republicans literally ran out of town. So that they didn't have to take up that resolution that was brought by a Republican member from Kentucky. When we get back after the November 3rd election, we'll have a conversation as a caucus about how we want to deal with the Pete Hegseth resolution that should be in front of us. Immediately upon our return. But are you inclined to support it? What I'm inclined to do is to act consistently with what I've said relative to Pete Hegseth from the very beginning. I called for Pete Hegseth to be fired by Donald Trump in the spring of 2025. He is deeply unqualified. He should never have been confirmed. As the Secretary of Defense, and we've seen how disastrous his tenure has been, particularly as it relates to the reckless, costly, failed war of choice in Iran. I've got two last topics for you. You're going to have to deal with Trump no matter what, but how does your agenda change with or without a Democratic Senate? Well, listen, I think Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats have done a tremendous job of putting the Senate in play. A year ago, no one thought that was possible outside of a handful of individuals. But right now, we're on the verge of not just taking back control of the House, but potentially flipping the Senate. A Democratic Congress in both the House and the Senate will increase our capacity to actually deliver on the affordability agenda that we've talked about because we mean it. The cost of living is way too high. We have to lower the high cost of groceries, lower the high cost of gas, lower the high cost of housing, and fight to make healthcare affordable for every single American. And is Schumer as leader the best partner for you to do that? Schumer's been a tremendous leader, and I would expect that he will continue as leader as we move forward. Two years ago, we were in a similar swing seat out in New Mexico. You told me in that moment that your mindset around the chaos was that calm is an intentional decision. Is that still your mindset now? Well, the American people want to see us decisively deliver on their behalf. And there's been far too much chaos and conflict and controversy occupying time in Washington, D.C. On the other hand, we've got to make sure that we are both fighting for an affordable America and fighting to stop the extremism that's been unleashed on the American people so we can end this national nightmare. As Democrats... In this Congress, we've been committed to battling Republicans on every issue. We've battled them on the tariffs, battled them on the Medicaid cuts, battled them on ICE funding, battled them with respect to the corruption that's been unleashed on the American people, battled them in connection with Epstein transparency, and certainly battled them to end this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. We're going to continue to battle them on every front. So that we're putting the American people first. Are you still intentionally calm? I'm still intentionally calm because in the midst of it all, we've got to actually make decisions that are anchored in delivering for the American people, as opposed to what the weapon of mass deception and disruption and distraction. It's thrown at us often by Donald Trump and his cartel, which is designed to prevent us from actually being focused on the things that matter as it relates to making life more affordable for the American people. Hey, it's Rachel. 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