Hakeem Jeffries is on a clear path to the speaker’s gavel. But poll reveals he is trailing the Republican he is about to replace by 8 points

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is moving toward the speaker’s gavel following a massive midterm victory for Democrats, even though he faces a significant popularity gap compared to the man he is set to replace, Newsweek reports.

Data from the final Economist/YouGov poll, conducted October 23-26, shows Jeffries trailing Speaker Mike Johnson by 8 points on net approval. While 26 percent of registered voters approved of the New York Democrat, 47 percent disapproved. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, held a 32 percent approval rating with 45 percent disapproval.

This polling took place before the election results were finalized, so it does not account for any potential boost in popularity following the party sweep that flipped both chambers of Congress. The survey included 1,440 registered voters and carries a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

Despite these numbers, Jeffries remains the heavy favorite to lead the House

Jeffries officially launched his bid on Wednesday with a letter to his colleagues, highlighting the party’s success while in the minority. He noted, “Against all odds, House Democrats were consistently successful in the minority. We must now deliver the dramatic change the American people are demanding in the majority.”

There is no formal opposition in the House, and the party’s strong majority of 250 seats as of Friday gives Jeffries a comfortable path to the 218 votes needed on the floor. Arizona Representative Greg Stanton mentioned that this margin allows Jeffries to “govern without worrying about being leveraged by anyone.”

Even so, public pressure is mounting through a Change.org petition that demands new Democratic leadership. The petition, authored by TikTok creator Nicole Whitted, reached 762,343 signatures by Thursday night. Whitted claimed her opposition is rooted in a desire for “real leadership that aligns with today’s Democratic voter, real accountability, and whether the party is genuinely listening to the voters demanding change.” She cited concerns over Jeffries’ ties to corporate interests and his August meeting with Jared Kushner.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is dealing with a similar wave of discontent. The same poll showed Schumer with an approval rating of 24 percent against 54 percent disapproval. Notably, he is the only one of the four congressional leaders viewed more negatively by members of his own party, with 42 percent of Democrats disapproving of his performance. Multiple incoming Democratic senators have signaled they will not support him, including Juliana Stratton, Adam Hamilton, and Troy Jackson. Minnesota Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan stated on Wednesday, “I think it’s time for new leadership.”

Schumer has dismissed these concerns, telling reporters on Wednesday, “The issue is not me. I’ll be reelected as majority leader. But the issue is focusing on the American people and what they want.” Supporters point to the historic nature of the recent election cycle as evidence of his effectiveness. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker said on Wednesday, “We’re gonna have a family discussion. But I think America should give…Chuck Schumer his due for what we were able to achieve.”

As of now, no senator has formally stepped up to challenge him for the position. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin expects both leaders to retain their roles when the party holds its internal elections in the coming weeks.