1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I’m writing to express my frustration with the leadership of the Democratic Party, particularly House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He recently stated that with control of the Senate, House, and White House, the Democrats have essentially surrendered. This is something we would never hear from Republicans. Even when they are in the minority, they fight like they’re in the majority. Jeffries’s complacency is a betrayal of the very people who need leadership the most. Three special elections are coming up soon, offering a chance to flip the House back to Democrats, yet Jeffries complains about grassroots organizations like MoveOn mobilizing an opposition. Instead of capitalizing on the administration’s failures, he’s doing nothing. This lack of urgency is revolting. I’ve never been more disgusted with a Democrat. Jeffries is shifting blame onto those of us demanding change and refusing to fight for us. The Democratic Party has a chance to win by elevating the loudest, most active voices—just like the Republicans do. Instead, the party silences those who want to lead. This is why voter turnout has been lower. The party is failing to recognize the people who are ready to fight. Meanwhile, Republicans continue handing you opportunities, and you do nothing. Even Republicans like Michael Steele are calling you out for being too weak. What does that say about the party? I work with children, and while I never wanted to participate in active shooter drills, I understand the responsibility to protect those I’m responsible for. If I must, I’ll place myself in harm’s way for their safety. This is a responsibility I take seriously. Hakeem Jeffries swore an oath to protect this country and its people, yet he refuses to fight for the values this nation was built on. If he won’t step up, he has no place in leadership. When South Korea’s president tried to declare martial law in December, lawmakers risked their lives to stop him, fighting through armed guards to defend their democracy. That’s what real leadership looks like. We should expect no less from our elected officials. In contrast, when Elon Musk illegally broke into the treasury and stole data, Jeffries stood by and did nothing. This is unacceptable. It's why many of us, particularly younger generations, are reconsidering our place in the Democratic Party. If this continues, we will break away and form something new—just like MAGA did. The Democratic Party must act now to avoid losing an entire generation of voters. I urge you to recognize the urgency and act accordingly.