Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) suggested that the popularity of the “Fight Oligarchy” tour is proving that the Democratic Party has some “energy” propelling it recently.
The rallies put on by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have drawn large crowds in traditionally red states, and specifically in districts held by Republicans in Congress, such as Utah, Arizona, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
ABC News host Jonathan Karl asked Jeffries on Sunday whether the Democratic Party was moving toward the more progressive policies of Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders. The House Minority leader largely skirted the question Sunday while on This Week.
“I think the energy of the Democratic Party right now is across the board, and everyone has made that observation that this is not a right, Left moment. It’s a moment of right versus wrong,” Jeffries said. “And we’ve got to be able to stand up to this assault that is under way led by Donald Trump and his compliant Republicans in the house and the Senate, an assault on the economy, on Social Security, on Medicaid, and an assault on the democratic way of life as we know it.”
JOE CONCHA ACCUSES BERNIE SANDERS OF ‘HYPOCRISY’ FOR COACHELLA LECTURE
Jeffries also refused to comment on Sanders’s assertion that the party is in need of new leaders. Instead, he claimed his focus is on the next governor’s races to win, despite polling that presented him as one of the Democratic leaders earlier in the segment. Karl cited a Gallup Poll that found 30% of Americans had confidence in him and 26% had faith in Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Meanwhile, when it came to their economic policies, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had 36% of Americans’ confidence, and John Thune had 33%.
While Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t confirmed her intentions with relation to the Fight Oligarchy tour, the New York representative is floated as the successor to Schumer in 2028. Sanders himself ran for president twice but has never won the Democratic Party’s nomination.
