--- title: "House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries optimistic about party's chances of retaking control of US House" url: https://newscentral.site/house-democratic-leader-hakeem-jeffries-optimistic-about-party/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Politics" published: 2026-10-18T23:06:23.000Z updated: 2026-10-19T00:40:52.273Z id: da225fdb-b84c-49de-ac66-8f19549e572d source: "ABC News Politics https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/jeffries-likes-democrats-chances-race-house-campaigns-ohio-137367096" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/house-democratic-leader-hakeem-jeffries-optimistic-about-party/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries optimistic about party's chances of retaking control of US House Jeffries was campaigning in Ohio's 9th Congressional District where Democrat Marcy Kaptur faces a tough challenge to keep her seat. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is optimistic about the chances of his party retaking control of the US House of Representatives, citing a favorable election climate. Jeffries was campaigning on Sunday in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, where Democrat Marcy Kaptur faces a tough challenge to keep her seat. The district is considered crucial for Democrats' hopes of regaining majority control of the House. During his visit to Toledo, Jeffries also weighed in on President Donald Trump's decision to waive sanctions on Russia. He expressed strong disapproval and vowed that Democrats will pursue a new sanctions package that would be harder for the president to circumvent. Jeffries' comments came after he attended church services in Toledo, where he spoke with local residents about the issues facing their community. His visit was part of an extensive campaign schedule that has taken him to over 50 cities across the country. As leader of House Democrats, Jeffries is well-positioned to become Speaker if his party wins back control of the House in November. In a statement on Sunday, he accused Republicans of being "divorced from reality for thinking that the upcoming election will mirror the 2024 sweep that put Trump and Republicans in power. The key battleground states are heating up ahead of the midterm elections, and Ohio is one of them. In a highly contested Senate race, Republican Sen. Jon Husted is facing off against Democrat Sherrod Brown, but it's the House races that could ultimately determine control of Congress. In the Toledo area, a crucial district has been identified as a top priority for both parties. The seat is currently held by Kaptur, who has served in the House for decades and holds the distinction of being the longest-serving woman in the chamber. However, her district has historically voted Republican, with Trump carrying it in previous elections. The Republicans are trying to flip this seat, which could give them a crucial advantage in the House. To achieve this goal, they have put forward a strong candidate in Derek Merrin, who ran against Kaptur two years ago and narrowly lost. With another opportunity on the table, Merrin is looking to capitalize on his previous campaign. Kaptur has been working tirelessly to maintain her seat, emphasizing that her efforts extend far beyond election season. In fact, she recently reflected on the importance of community work, stating We work very hard... We don't just work at elections. We work to make a difference in the lives of people. In recent news, Kaptur was involved in a car accident while heading to church in August, but fortunately, she has since recovered from her injuries and is back on the campaign trail. The Congressional Ukraine Caucus, a bipartisan group founded by Kaptur, has been instrumental in focusing attention on Ukraine's plight amidst Russia's invasion under President Putin's leadership. Kaptur was scathing in her criticism of Trump's decision to waive provisions of the sanctions bill named after Lindsey Graham, which Congress had passed with the intention of supporting Ukraine. By doing so, she argued that Trump had sided with Putin against America's interests. This move sparked outrage among lawmakers from both parties over the weekend. Johnson, a Republican congressman, echoed these sentiments on Fox News Channel's Sunday Morning Futures", stating that several of his colleagues have expressed concerns about the implications of Trump's decision. He emphasized the need for careful consideration of potential unintended consequences and suggested that further discussion with the president was warranted. The waiver of sanctions has been met with widespread criticism from lawmakers, who view it as a misguided move that undermines America's commitment to supporting Ukraine in its time of need. --- Source: [ABC News Politics](https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/jeffries-likes-democrats-chances-race-house-campaigns-ohio-137367096) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/house-democratic-leader-hakeem-jeffries-optimistic-about-party/