Moderate Democrats push back as progressives move to oust Jeffries, Clark over Trump strategy

By Fox News · Fox News

Moderate Democrats in the House of Representatives pushed back against far-left portions of their base, rejecting claims that party leaders in the House should be replaced for failing to effectively oppose President Donald Trump. Challenges to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., have been more visible than substantive, moderates told Fox News Digital. "They want to see loud screaming, and they want to see protests," Rep. George Latimer, D-N.Y., said of the challengers. SHOWDOWN FOR THE HOUSE: DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS BRACE FOR HIGH-STAKES MIDTERM CLASH "The showtime nature of Congress is what they’re responding to." In the past week, Clark received a primary challenge from Jonathan Paz, a candidate of Bolivian descent who argues that Democratic leadership has grown ineffective. "I’m challenging one of the most powerful Democrats in the House because we need new leadership. Let’s call it what it is. Our Democratic leaders are failing us. They’re not stopping Trump; they’re not making life more affordable. They’re not building a party for the working class," Paz said in a campaign video. Paz said his father was deported when he was 14 years old. Clark's challenge follows a similar one to Jeffries, the No. 1 Democrat in the House. Chi Ossé, a progressive-leaning New York City councilmember, decided to run against Jeffries, citing dissatisfaction with his resistance to the administration. "More exceptional ‘leadership’ from our supposed ‘leader,’" Ossé said in a post on X , reacting to news that Jeffries and other Democrats would not pursue impeachment charges against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Ossé has since dropped his bid. While Jeffries’ challenger has since stepped down, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said he believes the rumblings against Jeffries and Clark are representative of a pocket of frustration that’s going to persist no matter what. Moskowitz, who has voted with Republicans on matters like border security an…