A group of six Democratic members of Congress, calling themselves 'The Bloc', intends to interfere with Hakeem Jeffries' race to become Speaker.
Posted by Speaker Mike Johnson, Checked
- Sources
- 2 contradict1 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
Speaker Mike Johnson@SpeakerJohnsonOct 29, 2026The core assertion is supported: Axios reports that 'The Bloc,' an informal faction, is coordinating to use a potential speaker election and procedural votes as leverage against Jeffries, and Politico and the Washington Sun describe progressives withholding support for him.
A detail. The sources confirm the gist; the verdict faults a detail such as a date, number or wording.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… We have gigantic crowds, big excitement. It feels just like 2024 to me. And I'm telling you, the polls are going to be historically in this midterm election. Mr. Speaker, we've been reporting there's this, this group, this left wing insurgent group in the Democratic Party. They're calling themselves the Block. There they are, these six, and they're saying that they're going to interfere with Hakeem Jeffries Jeffers race to become speaker should the Democrats win. And they're going to say to him, we will vote with you if you vote with us. We will vote for you if you vote for us. They want Medicare for All. They want to cut off aid to Israel. They want to abolish ice. …
Speaker Mike Johnson@SpeakerJohnson · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. The sources describe the Bloc's members as candidates who won primaries and are expected to win in November, not sitting Democratic members of Congress at the claim's date.[2][3]
Supports. Axios reports that The Bloc, an informal grouping of left-wing insurgents, has been strategizing to use a potential House speaker election and procedural votes to extract concessions from Jeffries if he needs their votes.[2]
Supports. The Washington Sun names six progressive primary winners, including Melat Kiros and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who have declined to commit to backing Jeffries for speaker.[3]
Supports. Politico describes Kiros and Avila Chevalier as expected to help drive the Bloc of far-left lawmakers and says they wouldn't commit to backing Jeffries for speaker.[4]
Context. The Axios reporting says the discussions are preliminary, no plans have been finalized, and the scenario depends on Democrats winning the House majority, which is not guaranteed.[2][5]
Context. Jeffries himself says he has not asked anyone for their support and has not discussed what it would take to earn it, which bears on how the dispute is characterized.[1]
Sources
5 sources: 1 primary, 3 not rated, 1 tier 2
- 1LEADER JEFFRIES ON NEWS 12:”DRAMATIC CHANGE ...jeffries.house.gov · primary source · cited for: context
- 2House Democrats' incoming progressive "Bloc" plots its first movesaxios.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports, context
- 3How Hakeem Jeffries Is Courting the Leftwashingtonsun.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 4A moderate proposalpolitico.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 5Left-Wing House ‘Bloc' Plots First Moves If Dems Retake Houseconservativebrief.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post