House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that he will support every sitting House Democrat in the 2026 midterms, pushing back against efforts by Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg to replace several incumbents with younger challengers in upcoming primaries.

During an interview on ABC News’ This Week with Jonathan Karl, Jeffries made it clear he will stand by all Democratic incumbents, regardless of their position on the ideological spectrum.

“Well, I look forward to standing behind every single Democratic incumbent, from the most progressive, to the most centrist, and all points in between,” Jeffries said.

“They’re working hard in their communities, rising to the occasion.”

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The remarks came just days after Leaders We Deserve — a political organization founded by Hogg in 2023 — announced a $20 million plan aimed at supporting younger Democratic candidates in safe blue districts, even if it means backing primary challengers against sitting Democrats.

The move has sparked significant backlash within the party, particularly among House Democrats who see the effort as undermining unity ahead of critical midterm elections.

“This past week we had, of course, Medicaid Matters Day of Action, a Save Social Security Day of Action,” Jeffries continued.

“And we have to continue to do all of the things — rallies, town hall meetings in Democratic districts, town hall meetings in Republican districts, days of action, telephone town hall meetings, site visits, press conferences. We are in a more-is-more environment, and more is going to continue to be required of all of us.”

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Jeffries also emphasized that his broader focus remains on defeating Republican incumbents and regaining control of the House in 2026.

“Now, the House is the institution that is known to be — was built to be the closest to the American people,” he said.

“That’s why we have elections every two years. Primaries are a fact of life. But here’s the thing. I’m going to really focus on trying to defeat Republican incumbents so we can take back control of the House of Representatives and begin the process of ending this national nightmare that’s being visited upon us by far-right extremism.”

Hogg, who became nationally known after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, has since become a prominent voice in progressive politics and gun control advocacy.

He co-founded the March for Our Lives movement and was elected DNC vice chair in February, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the post.

In a post on X, Hogg defended his strategy.

“Everyone in our party says they want to start winning again, and they do — but that simply will not be possible with our current set of leaders, too many of which are asleep at the wheel, out-of-touch, and ineffective,” he wrote on Tuesday.

Everyone in our party says they want to start winning again, and they do—but that simply will not be possible with our current set of leaders, too many of which are asleep at the wheel, out-of-touch, and ineffective. As a result there are likely going to be stories in the next…

— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) April 16, 2025

Tensions between the party’s progressive activists and its establishment figures have grown in recent months, particularly after Republican gains in the 2024 election cycle.

A CNN/SSRS poll released March 16 showed the Democratic Party holding just a 29% favorability rating, underscoring growing voter dissatisfaction.

The conflict sets up a likely internal battle over the direction and leadership of the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 elections.

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