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Dems beef with party leaders over snubbed Black candidates
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Democratic House leaders are being pressured by their members over the lack of Black candidates receiving top-level party support in the final weeks of the 2026 midterms, Axios has learned.
Key facts
- Members of the Congressional Hispanic and Progressive Caucuses raged at the House Democratic campaign arm in June for spending $135,000 against a CHC- and CPC-backed primary candidate
- Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.)."When the reporter came into Congress, the reporter thinks there were 38 members of the Congressional Black Caucus
- What they're saying: "The CBC is in lockstep with Leader Jeffries," said CBC PAC spokesperson Chris Taylor in a statement
- We have enjoyed a strong partnership with the CBC PAC," said DCCC executive director Julie Merz in a statement
Summary
Some Black lawmakers have taken their concerns to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and DCCC chair and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), a CBC member, told Axios that "with the CBC under attack through gerrymandering and voter suppression, it's essential that the party invest in Black candidates. "In particular, she urged the DCCC to help Justin Pearson, a Black candidate running in a long-shot bid for Tennessee's 9th House District. "Jeffries, CBC PAC, DCCC, etc. can absolutely not be poor fiduciaries and spend money on races that are not attainable," one House Democrat told Axios in a text. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.)."When the reporter came into Congress, the reporter thinks there were 38 members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
It noted that the group "began investing in talking to and organizing Black voters in key districts earlier than ever this election cycle. " This is not the first time the DCCC has caught heat from House Democrats' internal factions this year for its strategic decision-making. Members of the Congressional Hispanic and Progressive Caucuses raged at the House Democratic campaign arm in June for spending $135,000 against a CHC- and CPC-backed primary candidate.