Slams Lawler

Jeffries slams Lawler a day after Capitol clash

Lawler has been promoting a compromise measure on Obamacare subsidies.

Gregory Svirnovskiy

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries derided GOP Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) as an “irrelevant individual” a day after the two clashed in front of reporters at the Capitol.

The pair’s public confrontation devolved into a shouting match Wednesday, with Lawler needling Jeffries over his lack of an endorsement for New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, and chiding the Democratic leader for his role in the shutdown.

Senate Democrats are holding out their support for Republicans’ government funding bill, arguing they have been left out of negotiations entirely and that they want a permanent extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies in exchange for their votes. Lawler has been promoting a compromise measure: A clean one-year extension.

Jeffries dismissed the plan in his brush with Lawler, asking the two-term lawmaker, “did your boss Donald Trump give you permission?”

On Thursday, Jeffries told CNN that Lawler’s proposal was irrelevant because it isn’t supported by top Republicans.

“He doesn’t even have the support of the House Republican leadership, who have refused to address the issue of extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” Jeffries said.

The Democratic position, Jeffries told CNN, “has been clear.”

“We will sit down with anyone, any time, any place to reopen the government, negotiate a bipartisan agreement that has to actually make life better for the American people, not hurt everyday Americans,” Jeffries said. “And a meaningful part of that is to address the Republican health care crisis, which includes, but is not limited to, the largest cut to Medicaid in American history.”

Lawler had long flirted with but ultimately passed on a run for New York governor in July amid pressure from House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump. He now faces a difficult reelection campaign in his New York House district in the Hudson Valley, and is considered one of the most endangered Republican House lawmakers ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

“Are you trying to elevate yourself because you’re afraid you’re about to lose reelection?” Jeffries challenged on Wednesday.

“I’m not trying to elevate myself, no I’m not gonna lose reelection,” Lawler responded. “You spent $42 million last cycle, you didn’t do that.”