Ohio Democratic Rep.-elect Don Leonard alleged in a video posted to X on Nov. 10 that unnamed “senior Democrats” told him they would “make [his] life a living hell” and ensure he loses reelection if he attaches conditions to supporting Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for House speaker. Journalist Ryan Grim shared the clip on X and summarized Leonard’s terms.
What Leonard says he was told
In the video, Leonard said the message from “senior members of the Democratic House” was that whether he supports Jeffries “regardless of [Jeffries’] willingness to speak with me” would determine whether party figures would, in Leonard’s words, “make my life a living hell for the next two years” and make him “be sure to lose my election.” He also said the threats felt “like something out of a movie.”
The conditions Leonard is demanding
According to Grim’s post, Leonard attached two conditions to backing Jeffries: (1) a vote on an amendment to end Citizens United, and (2) to “end U.S. support for the war in Iran and the country, Israel, that led us into it.” Leonard said Jeffries is refusing to meet with him.
Leonard added, “The big ‘D’ Democratic Party needs some little ‘d’ democracy,” describing himself as “a stubborn SOB.”
How party leadership responded
Asked about Leonard’s remarks, Democratic Rep. Peter Aguilar said, “I don’t know what ‘senior Democrats’ he’s talking about,” in a clip posted by RNC Research on X on Nov. 10.
What we can verify from the source
Western Journal characterized Leonard as having flipped a historically red Ohio district during the midterms. Patriot Nation Press has not independently verified Leonard’s video or identified the officials he referenced.
