Wisevoter
U.S.

Ruffalo Urges Democrats to Reject Jeffries for Speaker

Actor Mark Ruffalo is promoting a petition asking House Democrats not to back Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker after their party won the House majority.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Political Parties

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified dome silhouette in deep red above a cream field, split by a thin charcoal line, evoking institutional division.
House Democrats face an internal push to reject Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker after the party won the majority in the November 2026 midterms, with actor Mark Ruffalo promoting a petition against him. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should House Democrats choose their leader based on voter preference rather than establishment backing?

Actor Mark Ruffalo is promoting a petition calling on House Democrats not to vote for Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker. The effort follows Democrats' House majority win in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections.

Why it matters

The petition signals internal Democratic disagreement over who should lead the House as the party takes the majority. House members will choose the Speaker in January 2027, so the push could influence that vote.

The petition states Jeffries is simply not the right choice and that the Speaker should represent Democratic voters rather than the party establishment. No signature count or list of supporting lawmakers was reported.

The players

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo is an American actor and activist known for his film roles and outspoken political advocacy.

Hakeem Jeffries

Hakeem Jeffries is a New York congressman who serves as House Minority Leader and leads House Democrats.

The details

Ruffalo, who has criticized Jeffries's support for Israel including U.S. military aid, promoted the petition publicly. At a concert for Macklemore, weeks after Macklemore was dropped as an opener from the Ed Sheeran tour, Ruffalo said, "Keep fighting for a free Palestine and humanity all over the world."

Timeline

  1. November 3, 2026: Midterm elections in which Democrats won the House majority.

  2. Weeks before November 5, 2026: Ruffalo appeared at Macklemore's concert.

  3. January 2027: House members are expected to choose the Speaker.

Political Context

Calls to reject a party's own leader for Speaker are a recurring pressure point when a majority is won, as caucus members weigh leadership against constituent priorities. The Speaker vote in January 2027 will test whether this petition gains traction within the Democratic caucus.

The Speaker elected in January 2027 will set the House agenda and control floor votes on legislation affecting taxes, spending, and federal regulations. Changes in leadership could alter which bills reach the floor.

The takeaway

Leadership votes within a majority party can signal deeper ideological divisions before major policy fights begin. Watch the January 2027 Speaker vote to see whether the petition shifts support.

What happens next

House members are expected to choose the Speaker of the House in January 2027.

Further reading

Explore more coverage of Political Parties to see how party leadership fights shape Congress.

Live Poll

Should House Democrats choose their leader based on voter preference rather than establishment backing?