The key facts

  • Petition on Change.org against Hakeem Jeffries gathered 666,025 signatures as of November 5, 2026
  • The petition's author is Nicole Whitted; it was launched on September 3
  • The appeal is addressed to members of the 120th Congress ahead of the speaker vote in January 2027

Petition against Jeffries gathers more than 666 thousand signatures

More than 666 thousand people have signed an online petition urging House Democrats to vote against Hakeem Jeffries for speaker when the new Congress convenes in January 2027. According to Anadolu, the petition had 666,025 signatures at the time of publication. It was launched on the Change.org platform on September 3 by an author named Nicole Whitted. It is addressed to every member of the future 120th Congress and demands that Jeffries' candidacy — the current leader of the Democratic caucus in the House — be rejected and another candidate be elected instead.

What the petition's authors demand

“Democrats deserve a choice,” the petition states, insisting on a competitive speaker election. The authors argue that the speaker should represent Democratic voters rather than the party establishment, and they call on lawmakers to examine Jeffries' public record, his political positions, campaign donor records, and leadership style before voting. The petition also urges other House Democrats to put forward their own candidacies, emphasizing that the outcome of the vote is not yet predetermined.

Context

The speaker vote will take place in January 2027, when the new composition of the House of Representatives takes office. The petition is a public initiative and does not legally obligate members of Congress to follow its demands; Anadolu's report does not mention any reaction from Jeffries or the Democratic Party leadership. The signature figures are given as of November 5, 2026, and may change.