Former Rep. Cori Bush is refusing to commit to voting for Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker if she regains her House seat. She joins other progressive candidates who are signaling dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership. Bush stated that the speaker conversation is not her priority, focusing instead on community needs. Previously, she voted for Jeffries on multiple ballots, but now criticizes the administration's impact on communities. She described her past approach as "flipping over table by table" and intends to be even more disruptive if re-elected. Bush was part of the progressive "Squad" and a vocal critic of President Biden and leadership. She lost her seat in 2024 amid campaign finance allegations and opposition spending. Bush is among a group of progressives running strong campaigns against more moderate incumbents. She plans to consult this group when deciding her speaker vote. Some other progressive newcomers are more amenable to supporting Jeffries. Brad Lander, for instance, intends to elect Jeffries while also pushing leadership on policy. Democratic leadership projects confidence that these progressives will ultimately caucus with the party. They assume these members will help advance Democratic priorities.