In the divided US House of Representatives, top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries wants to keep some control over power

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democrat Hakeem Jeffries could wield more power in the U.S. House of Representatives than a minority leader typically enjoys, as President-elect Donald Trump’s fractious Republicans hold a slim majority.

For the past two years under Republican control, Jeffries has maintained a somewhat comfortable grip on power. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has turned to him more than a dozen times to give Democrats votes to pass major legislation, including in May, when Jeffries helped Johnson defeat an attempt by hardline Republicans to end his term as speaker to end, to fend off.

Democratic unity is expected to be on full display Friday when the new Republican-controlled chamber votes 219-215 on whether Johnson should remain in the speaker’s chair. Republicans needed multiple rounds of voting in January 2023 to elect former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and again in October of that year to elect Johnson after ousting McCarthy.

During these episodes, minority Democrats repeatedly voted for Jeffries, a 54-year-old New Yorker, as leader.

“I think we have a lot more influence there than we had in 2017,” Democratic Rep. Don Beyer said in an interview last month. This year marked the start of Trump’s first term, with his Republicans also controlling the House of Representatives, but by a 40-seat margin.

To be sure, Jeffries’s powers and those of Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will be limited. Republicans will try to pass much of Trump’s legislative agenda through party-line votes, bypassing Senate rules that require 60 of the 100 members to agree to most legislation, as Democrats did in President Joe’s first two years in office Biden did.

In the House, Jeffries’ powers will be limited primarily to exploiting divisions among Republicans that require Democratic votes to pass legislation.

It’s a tactic Jeffries has used more than a dozen times since Republicans took control of the House in January 2023. At issue were bills ranging from government funding to an $895 billion bill authorizing military programs and emergency aid for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.

The looming battle over Trump’s push to renew expiring tax cuts enacted in 2017 and aimed primarily at corporations and the wealthy is giving Democrats hope that Jeffries can win concessions. These include an expanded child tax credit for low earners and the removal of a cap on deductions for state and local taxes.

“We will work to find bipartisan common ground that is consistent with our values, but at the same time, whenever necessary, address far-right extremism that will harm the American people,” Jeffries said after the November election to reporters.

He and his lieutenants have outlined other areas of possible bipartisan compromise, Jeffries said, which include protecting people brought to the United States illegally as children from deportation, overhauling U.S. asylum law and updating the immigrant visa system Farm workers belong.

“CANNOT BE STEAM ROLLED”

It remains to be seen whether Jeffries will be able to build a working relationship with Trump. The two New York natives worked together on criminal justice reforms during Trump’s 2017-2021 term. But since then, partisanship in Washington has only deepened and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, has had a contentious relationship with Trump.

When Trump tried last month to force passage of a controversial debt ceiling increase as part of a revamped emergency funding bill, Democrats balked, joining about three dozen disgruntled Republicans.

“We have shown that we will not let ourselves be defeated,” said veteran Democratic representative Debbie Dingell.

The chaos raised questions about whether Trump had needlessly spent capital after the election, before his presidency had even begun, and now might have to scale back his targets.

“I do not believe that. He’s still strong. The people back home still love him. That’s all that really matters,” Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee told reporters.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)