During a recent interview on CNN, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) made it clear that Democrats will not “gerrymander their way” to a House majority, arguing instead that voters are turning away from what he described as broken Republican promises and extremist policies.
Speaking with Manu Raju, Jeffries framed the upcoming midterms as a referendum on cost of living, healthcare, immigration enforcement, and the Trump administation’s blatant corruption.
Jeffries dismissed the idea that Democrats are overreaching in states like Virginia, where a new redistricting proposal could give Democrats ten seats as opposed to just one for the Republicans.
He pointed out that Republicans started this nationwide redistricting fight and that Democrats are simply responding to ensure what he called a “fair national map.” According to Jeffries, the ultimate decision about the House majority should rest with voters, not with political maneuvering directed from the White House.
Jeffries: ‘They’re Feeling The Consequences’
Jeffries also pushed back on the notion that Democrats are mirroring Republican tactics. He called out President Donald Trump for pushing red states to gerrymander and influence the midterms, stating that Democrats are responding in kind by countering those efforts in states like California, Virginia, Utah, Missouri, and Ohio. These Democratic efforts are simply a consequence that the Republicans are now facing due to their underhanded actions.
“They thought we wouldn’t respond in California. They thought we wouldn’t respond in Virginia. They thought we wouldn’t win the litigation in Utah. They thought we wouldn’t force a referendum in Missouri. They thought we wouldn’t successfully push them back in Ohio. They got that all wrong, and now they’re feeling the consequences,” Jeffries stated.
When asked by Raju whether Democrats now hold the advantage on redistricting, Jeffries said the best outcome Republicans can realistically expect is maintaining the status quo. “They were beating on their chests last year, saying they were going to gerrymander our opportunities out of existence. In fact, some of them said, ‘we’re going to pick up 10 or 12 or 15 seats.’ They’re not saying that anymore,” Jeffries further added.
On the question of spending, Jeffries made clear that Democrats are prepared to invest heavily in Virginia’s referendum fight. He said the party would spend “whatever it takes,” potentially tens of millions of dollars, to ensure voters—not Donald Trump—determine control of the House after the midterms.
