Congressional Black Caucus plays hardball with Jeffries-skeptic DSA Democrats

Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus want a condition for incoming Democrats seeking to join their ranks: You have to support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for speaker.

Why it matters: Things could get dicey fast, as several Black Democrats who are all but guaranteed to be elected in November have declined to commit to voting for Jeffries.

• But Darializa Avila Chevalier wants in: The Afro-Latino nominee in New York's 13th District told Semafor she will seek to join both the CBC and the Hispanic Caucus if elected.
• Pennsylvania state Rep. Chris Rabb, the nominee for a Philadelphia-based House seat, told Axios he is "definitely planning to join" the CBC.
• "I absolutely plan on joining the Black Caucus," said Melat Kiros of Colorado — another Black Democrat running in a safely blue district.

All three DSA-aligned candidates have declined to commit to voting for Jeffries as speaker.

• Kiros previously told Axios she "will not vote for any Democrat for a leadership position if they take corporate PAC money," which would apply to Jeffries.

What we're hearing: Several members of the Black Caucus, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer frank remarks about likely incoming colleagues, said criticism of Democratic leadership could be an issue.

• One senior CBC member, when asked if Avila Chevalier would be allowed to join, told Axios: "Not if she doesn't support Hakeem along with other issues."
• Asked if that would apply to all incoming members, the lawmaker replied, "Yes."
• Avila Chevalier "absolutely will not be welcomed if she doesn't support Hakeem," said a second CBC member. "Under no circumstances would anyone be welcomed with a warm embrace if they are going to undermine the brotha! Just no path."

Between the lines: Loyalty to Democratic leadership isn't a formal criterion for CBC membership, a source familiar with the matter told Axios, but it may be a de facto one.

• "Support for Hakeem is not a written rule, at least not yet," the source said, but "it would be a challenge to accept someone in the CBC who doesn't support him for speaker."
• The source added: "The CBC has far-left people, Squad members, DSA members. ... But they are committed to Black people and the Black agenda. Hakeem Jeffries as speaker of the House is about progress for Black people and the Black agenda."
• "You can't come to the CBC and blow up the point of the CBC. It does not make sense."

Yes, but: The second House Democrat who spoke on the condition of anonymity stressed that while these members may not be welcomed with open arms, it doesn't mean they will be turned away entirely.

• "We have had Republicans," the lawmaker noted. The CBC allowed former GOP Rep. Mia Love to join, though it has denied other Republicans.
• The group has also rebuffed some Democrats, including Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), the Afro-Latino chair of the Hispanic Caucus, whom Avila Chevalier unseated in June.

A Democratic leadership source strongly pushed back against the notion that any incoming Black Democrats would be denied entry to the CBC based on their vote for speaker.

• "I don't believe the CBC decides its membership based on one's pledge to support leadership," the source said, adding that Avila Chevalier "will get the same review process as everyone else."
• "I don't think it's a thing at the end of the day," the source said.

The bottom line: "As with every new Congress, matters related to membership for the 120th Congress will be addressed following the 2026 election cycle through the Congressional Black Caucus's established processes," a CBC spokesperson told Axios.

• "Right now, our focus is on voting rights while remaining committed to advancing policies that expand opportunity, protect fundamental rights, and improve the lives of the communities we serve."