The left wing of the Democratic Party flourished this summer as fed-up liberals in key races across the country have eschewed traditional, more moderate candidates in favor of hard-charging progressives.
But behind the scenes, ultra-progressive House members and candidates are pushing their own party leaders to reflect more of that mood — arguing that Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and his allies are, so far, failing to grasp the demands of far-left voters who showed up in droves this summer.
Those liberals watched in alarm in recent weeks as Jeffries publicly disavowed their marquee “Medicare for All” bill while a pro-Israel Democrat was elevated to a key foreign policy role within the caucus. They also argue his allies were working to undermine a pair of progressive candidates in Michigan and California.
“I was very confused and surprised by that,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a senior progressive and author of the House’s “Medicare for All” bill, told CNN about the leader’s comments about her signature bill. She added that she has been having “direct” conversations with Jeffries about it.
The emerging frustrations on the left offer a preview of some of the pressures that await Jeffries if the party can flip the chamber next year, particularly as a new crop of far-left progressive candidates threaten not to support him for leader post-election.
“I think what we’ve seen around the country is that people all over are dissatisfied. They’re not happy with the administration. They’re not happy with the current leadership in the Democratic Party — and are looking for a change,” Dr. Adam Hamawy, a progressive candidate who is likely to win a deep blue seat in New Jersey this November, told CNN. Hamawy is among several candidates fresh off primary victories who have not decided whether to back Jeffries.
“Most Democrats, I think, agree that the current leadership is failing to face the moment,” Hamawy told CNN when asked if he’ll support Jeffries. “I have to see what the choices are and what the situation is.”
Tensions have long simmered within the Democratic Party, including in its fractious House caucus, where many centrists are privately pleased with what they see as Jeffries’ effort to distance the party from a far-left agenda ahead of a critical election. But the rise of the democratic-socialist wing of the party has drawn new urgency to a major question now facing Jeffries: How much should the party embrace its insurgent left when it’s also trying to win dozens of seats in GOP turf in November?
Nearly all progressives who spoke to CNN said Jeffries is still on track to become speaker next January if Democrats flip the chamber, according to conversations with more than a dozen Democrats. Privately, Jeffries has already met or made plans to meet with five of those insurgent Democrats: Hamawy in New Jersey, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, and Melat Kiros in Colorado, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Still, the recent frustrations on the left illustrate the challenge for Jeffries and his leadership team as they navigate the anti-establishment midterm mood within their party. The dissatisfaction goes beyond the upper echelons of leadership: there are preliminary internal discussions among current progressive members about challenging committee leaders and, possibly, instituting term limits for key roles, multiple people told CNN.
“Defeating 10, 30-year incumbents should be a wake-up call to the Democratic establishment that the base is moving underneath them,” Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for a group helping to power the far-left wins, Justice Democrats, told CNN. (This cycle, nine of the group’s endorsed candidates won primaries, its biggest year to date.)
Andrabi specifically pointed to Jeffries’ comments on “Medicare for All” – in which Jeffries recently said he did not support the legislation: “Unfortunately, it often feels that the Democratic leadership and establishment don’t even want to acknowledge the ground is moving.”
Progressives, including Hamawy and Avila Chevalier, made clear in interviews with CNN they are coming to Washington to make real progress on an ambitious agenda on affordability and anti-corruption — not to simply antagonize leadership.
“We’re not really going in to fight, we’re going in to deliver on what people want,” Hamawy said.
Yet even Jeffries’ allies acknowledge the challenge awaiting him in January: navigating an intraparty battle over the party’s ideological future. While an emboldened left wing is pushing for a major shake-up in Congress, Jeffries could also face an expanded centrist bloc that humiliated leadership last week when some of its members showed they were willing to defy the party line on key priorities — even if it meant helping Republicans.
That centrist rebellion has since triggered a messy internal feud among House Democrats. Privately, Jeffries and his team are discussing ways to crack down on any of their members voting for procedural motions that hurt the party – a proposal that has infuriated the left and centrists alike, according to Democrats from both factions.
A tense debate has since unfolded over whether party leaders should create new rules for next year to punish members who defy leadership. In a closed-door meeting on Wednesday about leadership’s push, Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar of Texas pushed back firmly, arguing that members need to be able to voice dissent, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions. But he was immediately confronted by others, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, who argued Democrats shouldn’t be willing to go rogue on the floor.
Those dynamics will be on full display starting with the speaker’s vote in January, if Democrats win the majority.
Avila Chevalier, a community organizer who shook New York City politics by unseating a long-time incumbent this summer, told CNN that she recently had a “positive” conversation with Jeffries.
But she said she hasn’t “come to any final decisions on that yet,” when asked whether she would support Jeffries as party leader, adding: “It’ll be the first vote I make. It’ll set the tone for the kind of representative that my district will have, and I want that vote to mean something to my community.”
Even if many of the far-left incoming Democrats ultimately do support Jeffries, it’s to their advantage not to show their cards just yet – creating what could be powerful leverage to negotiate for their priorities when they first arrive in Congress.
Asked more broadly about her agenda for next year, Avila Chevalier offered a range of “day one” priorities such as ending the sale of weapons to Israel, the Green New Deal for Public Housing and abolishing super PACs – as well as other ideas that are widely backed by the party like universal childcare and raising the minimum wage.
“It’s time that folks who are in DC or elsewhere who might be comfortable with the status quo to recognize that the vast majority of the people of this country are hungry for something different,” she said.
Angst over the emerging Democratic agenda
Many liberal Democrats are careful not to openly criticize their own leadership just ahead of a must-win midterm election.
But privately, progressive members and candidates remain concerned by Jeffries’ comments publicly disavowing “Medicare for All” and saying he does not support the Democratic Socialists of America agenda in an interview last month with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Asked if he supports the bill, Jeffries said: “No, as you indicated, I haven’t cosponsored the ‘Medicare for All’ legislation that has been introduced over the last several years,” adding: “I do think we need to figure out how to fix our broken health care system and then build something better.”
Jeffries’ allies said his comments also reflect one of his long-time beliefs — that House leaders should not support major bills until there’s broad support in the caucus.
Other progressives are concerned that party leaders are not adequately responding to the movement’s vocal pro-Palestine push. They are, in particular, concerned about the recent elevation of prominent Israel supporter, Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, to a Foreign Affairs subcommittee post that could give him influence over foreign policy next year.
Multiple Democrats told CNN that Jeffries was not involved in the move – saying instead that it was arranged by Rep. Brad Sherman, another Israel ally, who inherited the role after a colleague’s resignation. Moskowitz, who’s facing a tough reelection, asked Sherman if he could have the spot on the panel to help him with pro-Israel voters back home, those people said.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, dismissed the left’s criticism, calling the hand-off “standard committee procedure.” He added that Moskowitz had already held an important role on the committee – the top Democrat on the oversight subcommittee, which has since been passed off to Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Illinois.
“I don’t know what the left’s problem is,” Meeks said, adding that he believes his committee is “very balanced” on the issue of Israel.
Still, the rise of Moskowitz has emerged as a major flashpoint among progressive lawmakers and candidates, especially after Jeffries had appealed to the left earlier this year by declaring that “American policy in the Middle East must change” after he opposed cutting taxpayer aid to Israel during a landmark vote earlier this year.
A ‘shocking’ intervention in California
Then there are party leaders’ recent moves on the campaign trail.
In California, progressives are furious that their state’s delegation leader, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, tried to tank a left-wing candidate in a bitter fight to fill the seat of former Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Progressive candidate, state Sen. Aisha Wahab, won the state party’s endorsement and secured the most votes in two separate primaries for the seat (including a special election) – though she failed to top the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff.
Ahead of that August 18 runoff, Lofgren, a leadership ally, released a video statement questioning Wahab’s fitness to serve in Congress and instead endorsed a more moderate candidate for the upcoming runoff.
The drama began after Lofgren and others, including No. 3 House Democrat Rep. Pete Aguilar, argued that California Democrats needed to fill the seat as quickly as possible and should install a “placeholder” Democrat to the seat temporarily.
But progressives argued Lofgren was simply trying to keep Wahab out of the role, giving the more moderate — and AIPAC-backed — candidate a better chance of winning a full term for the seat in November. (A person familiar with the subject said the congresswoman wasn’t opposing her due to her progressive policy stands, but rather because of Wahab’s refusal to back the push to install a “placeholder” Democrat to the seat through January.)
Wahab still won and was sworn into the House last week. But the cost, progressives say, was millions of dollars in spending in the election that could have gone toward defeating Republicans.
Wahab has since spoken with both Lofgren and Aguilar and they congratulated her on her win, she told KCRA 3 News. But one of Wahab’s most vocal supporters, Amar Shergill, a prominent progressive activist in California, told CNN that he still blames party leaders for allowing such a “shocking” intervention against the candidate endorsed by the state party.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, it was unprecedented,” Shergill said. “Lofgren leads the largest congressional delegation in the country. When she makes moves behind the scenes, everybody hears about it. It’s impossible for DC leadership not to know what she’s doing.”
“It was a tough primary but we’re looking forward to everyone coalescing around her and putting the primary behind us,” said Evan Brown, executive director of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC.
Frustrations after bitter primary in Michigan
Meanwhile, in Michigan, progressives are fuming that the House Democrats’ campaign arm has refused to publicly promote left-wing Democrat, Will Lawrence, roughly a month after he won a nasty three-way primary there.
At issue: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has so far declined to add Lawrence to a coveted list of their priority House candidates, in part out of deference to leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, multiple people involved in discussions about the issue told CNN.
The CBC has yet to endorse Lawrence after their public battle with him during the primary over his 2024 comments criticizing Black political leaders. Lawrence, a White climate activist who recently let his DSA membership lapse, came under fire from senior Black Democrats, including Jeffries and Meeks for saying Black political leaders “defang the White left.”
Lawrence, in previous interviews with CNN, has apologized for his “choice of words” in that statement. And some House progressives are “absolutely apoplectic” that party leaders have not yet backed him, according to one of those people.
“We’re working on a path forward when it comes to being able to support him,” a Black Caucus strategist with knowledge of the situation told CNN.
The list, run by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is effectively seen as a “stamp of approval” from party leaders — a flashing sign for party groups and donors to put their support behind the strongest candidates. Lawrence’s absence, progressives say, is depriving him of a big fundraising boost to help defeat GOP Rep. Tom Barrett.
The flare-up in Michigan comes after party leaders did get behind a slew of other progressive candidates in key races – including some who defeated party-preferred candidates – such as Randy Villegas in a pivotal California swing seat.
The DCCC and Lawrence’s campaign declined to comment. But one person familiar with the inner-workings of the DCCC told CNN that the group has been “working every day” with Lawrence’s team to defeat Barrett in November.
Meeks, who runs the Black Caucus’s PAC, said he’s had “good conversations” with Lawrence over the phone and is looking forward to sitting down with him in Washington soon.
“We’ll talk. I think we’re going to get that resolved,” he said. “If you look at him, compared to who he’s running against, we want him to win.”

Officials from the campaign said that an armed man charged at Amy Acton’s, the Democratic candidate running for governor of Ohio, during Sunday’s campaign stop in Canfield Fair. He injured several people.
Officials from the campaign said that multiple people had been injured.
CBS News reported that the suspect was identified by Mahoning County sheriff Jerry Greene as Patrick Havas of Canfield. “He aggressively shoved through the crowd while holding his cell phone high,” Greene said. Havas, who was hurrying forward at the time, is said to have knocked two elderly people off their mobility scooters and caused one to fall, according to Greene.
The sheriff reported that Acton’s Security Detail, which was made up of troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, were able to arrest him.
According to Greene the man was carrying two pistols, brass knuckles, and a revolver, which is legal in Ohio.
Havas, who is currently being held in the Mahoning County Jail on two misdemeanor counts of assault and disorderly conduct and one charge of disobedience of order according to Greene.
Wayne Penny Jr. said that a Democratic Party candidate in Ohio’s State House District 59 had told CBS News about a group of hecklers who had assembled at their tent. One heckler “bum-rushed” through the crowd and hurled himself towards Acton.
Penny stated that “he literally bull-rushed the crowd. He knocked down our volunteers, ran through and pushed the Parkinson’s patient over. The gentleman fell and hit his head.”
In a press release, Chris Anderson, the Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman said that the man had also knocked down several volunteers.
Acton expressed “gratefulness for the quick and decisive actions of law enforcement, and we pray for the recovery and well-being of the injured.” Ohio is not a place for this kind of violence. Addie bullock, the communications director of the campaign, said that Dr. Acton would always be able to stand against the chaos, hatred and vitriol which pits people against each other.
Acton faces Vivek RAMASWAMY, a Republican who is using his name recognition and connections in the tech industry, as well as an alliance with Donald Trump, to raise record amounts of money for advertising campaigns aimed at November’s election. Acton is being targeted in his campaign rallies, as well as advertising.
Ramaswamy deemed the Sunday incident unacceptable.
Candidates should not have to fear violence or threats when meeting with voters. Connie Luck said that what happened was unacceptable, had no place in the world of politics and hoped no one got hurt.
Andy Wilson, the Ohio Attorney General said that in a press release: “The attempt violence against Dr. Acton was unacceptable. Political violence in any form has no place either in Ohio or in our country. My prayers go out to those injured. I’m thankful that she wasn’t hurt.
After working closely with the Ohio State Highway Patrol I am confident in the executive protection team and grateful for the quick response.
In a press release, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that he was “grateful to Dr. Amy Acton for not being injured and sends our best wishes to the victims.” “We spoke with Dr. Acton today afternoon, and she told us to let Ohioans know that she was ok.”
He added that “violence, or even the threat of violent acts at public or political events, is never acceptable.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – An armed attacker charged at Amy Acton on Sunday, during a stop for a campaign event in Canfield, Ohio. He injured several people, before he stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
In a press release, Ohio State Highway Patrol stated that Havas had pushed his way into a crowd and knocked over several people as he walked toward Acton. Acton was the former director of public health for the state. The statement stated that he had two pistols and a taser.
Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office reported that two handguns, a pair of brass knuckles and other items were found after the arrest. “No weapons were ever displayed or removed from holsters.”
The highway patrol said that Havas had been taken to county jail, where he was booked for disorderly conduct, and assault on two counts. No other information is available until an investigation has concluded. The case was not listed in online court records, nor did it appear to be represented by an attorney as of Sunday evening.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine stated in a press release that the man had “tried forcefully to push himself” towards Acton while she spoke at the Canfield fair, located in northeastern Ohio. He added that violence or threats of violence are never acceptable at public or political events.
This is just the latest act of political violence that has erupted in the United States. The Ohio governor’s race has been one of the highest-profile contests this year, as campaigns move into the last six weeks before November.
Acton faces Republican Vivek RAMASWAMY, who is using his name recognition and connections in the tech industry, as well as an alliance with Donald Trump, to raise record amounts of money for advertising campaigns aimed at November’s election. Acton is being criticized in his campaign rallies, as well as through advertising.
Ramaswamy’s campaign has called Sunday’s incident unacceptable.
Candidates should not have to fear violence or threats when meeting with voters. Connie Luck said that what happened was unacceptable, had no place in the world of politics and hoped no one got hurt.
Addie bullock, the communications director of Acton’s election campaign, stated in a press release that the suspect had “lunged at Acton.” The Democratic candidate, she said, “will stand against the chaos and hate that divides us.”
Jon Husted of the Ohio Republican Senate condemned the incident, saying on X he was “disturbed” by the attack that occurred on Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair. The quick reaction of law enforcement is appreciated. “This type of behaviour is unacceptable and must not be tolerated.”
Over the last decade, political violence has increased in this country. This includes the shooting in 2017 at the Republican congressional baseball practice in Alexandria Virginia, the 2022 assault with a hammer on Nancy Pelosi’s husband in California during her presidential campaign in 2024 and another attempt to assassinate Donald Trump in Pennsylvania at his Presidential Campaign as well as a second attack on him at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April this year.
According to a report published in April by the Public Service Alliance (a nonpartisan organization that is focused on the security of public officials), federal political committees have spent over $40 million for expenses labelled as security.
Acton, who was an assistant professor of public and environmental health at Ohio State University when DeWine recruited her in 2019, became the director of Ohio Department of Health. She was thrust into the spotlight as the COVID-19 epidemic grew in the early part of 2020. Many viewers were comforted by her daily appearances at the Governor’s news conferences.
Acton received the Columbus Foundation Spirit of Columbus Award for her work as director of health, and the highest honor of Ohio State University, the Alumni Medalist Award.
Acton’s position as the public face of DeWine’s administration and its aggressive approach against the virus earned her many enemies. Among them were Statehouse Republicans, who were opposed to pandemic regulations.
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This report was written by Associated Press reporter Ryan J. Foley from Iowa City, Iowa.

The 38-year old suspect has been arrested for assault and disorderly behavior.
Numerous people, though not seriously injured, were reported to have been knocked down.
Both political parties have condemned this attack.
A man with an armed weapon was arrested for lunging and knocking down fairgoers in Mahoning County, Ohio after he threw a punch at Democratic Ohio Governor Dr. Amy Acton.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol released a press release stating that at midday, on September 6, 38-year-old Patrick M. Havas of Canfield forced his way past a crowd gathered in the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent, and he knocked over several people. He was quickly arrested by the Patrol’s executive security unit.
Acton is not hurt.
Havas, according to those in attendance, pulled out his cellphone while Acton gave her speech as if he wanted to ask Acton a specific question. Havas shoved his way through the crowd and knocked down two elderly adults.
According to a statement from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, after detaining Havas law enforcement discovered two pistols, a taser, and other items in his possession. Canfield Fair does not allow firearms inside designated buildings.
Havas was arrested at the Mahoning County Jail on two charges of assault and disorderly conduct. According to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, investigators have determined that no firearms were brandished nor removed from holsters.
Acton, who was present at the scene, said that after Havas had been detained, he jumped into action to assist the volunteers.
Mary Janek, a member of the Campbell City Council said Acton had everything under control. Janek heard Acton tell those present: “We’re sick of hatred.”
Tony Kelly, Janek’s spouse, said, “It is always a good thing to have a physician in the home.”
Acton is a Democrat who’s running against Vivek RAMASWAMI, a Republican, in a close race to succeed Ohio Governor. Mike DeWine.
Addie bullock, the communications director of the Acton Campaign said: “Dr. Acton is grateful to law enforcement for their swift and decisive actions and they are praying for those who were injured.” This kind of violence is not welcome in Ohio. “Dr. Acton is always going to stand against the chaos, hatred and vitriol which pits people against each other.”
Ramaswamy’s campaign denounced the incident.
Candidates should not have to fear violence or threats when meeting with voters. “What happened today was completely unacceptable, has no place within politics and we hope no one got hurt,” said Connie Luck, a spokesperson for the campaign.
What has happened?
Havas, according to former U.S. Rep. John Boccieri who was a Democratic House candidate in Ohio and witnessed the incident said he pushed into the tent where Acton gave her speech.
Boccieri stated, “I witnessed a large person come into the room and begin to knock people about.” He knocked over a number of people before her. “One was an elderly man, perhaps in his eighties.”
Kelly said he heard Havas “playing the victim as if he has every right to be there and ask questions and push people over.” Kelly claimed that he had heard Havas, “playing victim” as if it was his right to ask questions and shove people.
Havas shared a previous address with Andrew Havas. Havas was a former volunteer for U.S. Senator Jon Husted, who quit his campaign after it became known that he had a criminal conviction. NBC News reports that Andrew Havas was sentenced to jail following allegations of sexual misconduct.
DeWine and other Ohio leaders react
DeWine talked with Acton after the incident. Acton was the Ohio Health Director during the COVID-19 Pandemic. DeWine released a statement saying that Acton told him to let Ohioans know she was OK.
DeWine stated that violence or threats of violence during political or public gatherings is never acceptable.
Husted (a Republican) and Sherrod Brown (a Democrat), both former senators, expressed concern about Acton’s situation and thanked the law enforcement agencies for taking quick action.
Husted stated, “Tina & I were disturbed by Amy Acton’s attempted assault today at Canfield Fair.” This type of behaviour is unacceptable and must not be tolerated.
Brown issued a press release saying: “Connie, I and the entire family are thankful that everyone involved is safe. We thank Ohio police officers for their prompt and professional response.”
This story has been updated with the latest information.

A spokesperson for the campaign said that an armed individual “lunged at” Amy Acton (Ohio’s Democratic candidate for Governor) and injured several other people during a fair.
Addie Bulock, the spokeswoman, said that Acton and Eric “rejoiced at the quick and decisive actions of the law enforcement agencies and prayed for the healing of the injured.”
Bullock continued, “This type of violence is not acceptable in Ohio.” “Dr. Acton is always ready to stand against the hate, chaos and vitriol which pits people against each other.
Acton was visiting the annual Canfield Fair, in Mahoning County near Youngstown on Sunday afternoon. Acton was a doctor and remained at the scene to treat one of those injured. A photo shared by an attendee with NBC News shows that Acton did not get hurt.
It was unclear how many people were injured.
NBC News contacted Canfield Police and they did not immediately have any information on the incident. Ohio State Highway Patrol didn’t immediately reply to an information request.
Christopher Anderson, the chair of Mahoning County Democratic Party said that the incident occurred while Acton, the county party tent, was present.
Anderson posted on Facebook that “What happened today at our tent during Dr. Acton’s visit is reprehensible, and leaders from all parties should condemn it.” The MCDP thanks our local police officials for their quick response, as well as Ohio State Highway Patrol who provided Dr. Acton with security.
Acton served as Ohio’s Health Director under a governor who was term limited. Mike DeWine was a Republican in the beginning of the Covid epidemic. In the general elections in November, she will face Vivek RAMASWAMY, a Republican businessman and former presidential candidate in 2024. The polls indicate a tight race.
Ramaswamy was also scheduled to attend the fair on Sunday afternoon.
Connie Luck, Ramaswamy’s spokesperson said via email that candidates should not have to fear violence or threats when meeting with voters. What happened today was completely unacceptable, has no place within politics and we hope that nobody got hurt.
DeWine released a Sunday statement in which he said that both he and Acton had discussed the incident. DeWine expressed his gratitude that she wasn’t hurt.
DeWine stated that violence or threats of violence during political or public gatherings is never acceptable. This case has now been handed over to law enforcement, who will investigate it thoroughly.
On X, Sen. Jon Husted posted that he and wife are “disturbed” by the attack.
Husted said, “We appreciate the quick action taken by law enforcement.” This type of conduct is unacceptable and must not be tolerated.