House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) could face a rebellion from his Democratic Party members in 2027, as a growing number of Democratic candidates tell Axios they can't commit to supporting his leadership. This is a stark contrast from Jeffries' previously untouchable standing in the Democratic Party and a sign that his path to the speakership may be more difficult than previously thought. Jeffries and his allies maintain that they are not worried about a mass defection, pointing out that he has had to endure 20 speakers' ballots and hasn't lost a Democratic vote. The leading progressive primary challenger to Rep. Doris Matsui ( D-Calif.), who had previously expressed support for Jeffries, has expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership and called for new leadership. New retirement announcements and congressional map redraws have resulted in more candidates not yet sold on or outright hostile to Jeffries.