Hakeem Jeffries Faces Growing Progressive Backlash Over Pro-Israel Stance

On Tuesday, Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz was named ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. The selection was announced by New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the panel’s top Democrat, but criticism fell largely on House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries, who has absorbed the backlash from progressive members of his party. Critics argue the move signals Democratic leadership’s unwillingness to adjust U.S. policy toward Israel.

Newsweek

Recent polling shows a marked change in the Democratic base. A YouGov survey commissioned by the IMEU Policy Project found that in Michigan, 80 percent of respondents believed Israel was committing genocide in Gaza, with 91 percent of those under 45 sharing that view. In South Carolina, 52 percent opposed arms sales to Israel. A Gallup poll released in February reported that 65 percent of Democrats now sympathize more with Palestinians than with Israelis, a reversal from a 2-to-1 Israeli preference in 2013. Pew Research data from 2026 indicates that 80 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold a negative view of Israel, up from 69 percent the previous year.

Newsweek

• Civiqs (through Aug. 12) recorded 26 percent favorable and 54 percent unfavorable views of Jeffries.

Newsweek

• A CNN/SSRS poll (July 23-27) showed 16 percent favorable versus 32 percent unfavorable.

Newsweek

• YouGov places Jeffries 22nd among national Democrats with a 30 percent popularity rating.

Newsweek

Jeffries defended his record on Israel, opposing a GOP amendment that would cut roughly $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel, arguing the proposal would also harm humanitarian aid and refugee resettlement. He later endorsed Mayor Zohran Mamdani, praising his focus on affordability while noting “areas of principled disagreement.”

Newsweek

Former Obama aide and Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor called the Kushner meeting a “total unforced error” that gives opponents “more ammo” against Jeffries. Democratic strategist Doug Gordon described the encounter as a misstep that undermines Jeffries’ leadership prospects.

Newsweek

Progressive voices have been vocal:

Newsweek

• Cenk Uygur, host of *The Young Turks*, linked donor influence to the pro-Israel stance.

Newsweek

• Kyle Kulinski of *Secular Talk* called Moskowitz a “diet MAGA pro-war pro-Israel” Democrat and urged Jeffries to resign.

Newsweek

• Streamer Hasan Piker (HasanAbi) accused Democratic leaders of ignoring voter sentiment on the “lopsided issue.”

Newsweek

• Socialist organizer Kshama Sawant denounced Jeffries as “genocidal.”

Newsweek

• “There are very few issues I disagree with Mamdani on but this is definitely one of them,” — Mehdi Hasan

Newsweek

Polls differ on Jeffries’ unfavorable ratings. The Civiqs survey shows a 54 percent unfavorable rating, while the CNN/SSRS poll records a lower 32 percent figure, highlighting uncertainty about the precise level of party-wide disapproval.

Newsweek

Jeffries has publicly maintained confidence that Democrats will regain the House majority in the November midterm elections, asserting that a Democratic win is “definite.” His leadership bid and the party’s stance on Israel are expected to remain focal points as the election cycle progresses.

Newsweek