Cait Conley introduced Hakeem Jeffries in Peekskill, New York, with a title he does not yet hold: “Speaker Jeffries.” The House Democratic leader is not ready to embrace that designation, even as he voices confidence that Democrats will capture the House.

Jeffries would not discuss expected margins, specific numbers or formally declare himself a candidate for speaker. Instead, with Election Day just over one week away, he kept his focus on competitive races and the possibility of a Democratic majority.

“We’re watching the races in Texas and Florida closely,” Jeffries told MS NOW. He argued that Republicans had redrawn congressional maps in those states seeking nine seats, but predicted Democrats would capture several districts previously considered beyond their reach.

Polls, pundits and even some Republicans privately share his broad assessment of the national landscape, though not necessarily his view of every contest. One crucial race is in New York’s Hudson Valley, where Conley is challenging Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in the 17th District.

“What we’re thinking about right now is winning every single seat in front of us that’s competitive,” Jeffries said. Although many current and prospective Democratic members already call him speaker, Jeffries insists “we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

His possible rise to the speakership remains one of Washington’s safest predictions. Jeffries said Democrats must first concentrate on November 3, then turn toward January 3, the opening day of the new Congress.

Those weeks could become critical amid fears about federal interference in the elections. The Trump administration has filed recent lawsuits in Alaska and left open the possibility of sending federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE, to polling places around the country.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers last week sent Jeffries and Speaker Mike Johnson a letter urging a peaceful transfer of power. Jeffries said he had not spoken specifically with Johnson about the letter, but had addressed the broader responsibility with the speaker and other Republicans.

“We have to respect the will of the voters to ensure that there’s a peaceful transfer of power,” Jeffries said. “Whatever happens on November 3rd has to translate into who is in the majority on January 3rd.”

Jeffries said Johnson would not discuss what the Republican speaker considers a hypothetical scenario. Still, Jeffries predicted the results would be decisive enough to establish clearly that Democrats will control the House and win races across the country.

Jeffries argues that the political tide has moved toward Democrats because the party has aggressively challenged the president. Although polls show Trump deeply unpopular while Democrats continue to struggle with their own favorability, Jeffries pointed to surveys giving his party an advantage on key issues, including inflation, the economy and the war in Iran.

He credits the change to “the fact that we’ve successfully and aggressively pushed back against MAGA extremism.” That resistance anchors the Democrats’ two part campaign message centered on affordability and accountability.

Accountability could soon place War Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Democratic crosshairs. During his Saturday appearance, Jeffries vowed to “run Pete Hegseth out of town,” escalating his criticism as Hegseth faces attacks from lawmakers in both parties.

“It means that we’re going to hold him accountable in the same way that we held Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem accountable,” Jeffries said afterward. He added, “And Pete Hegseth needs to be pushed aside by the president, or we’re going to have to deal with that situation if he is not.”

The position brings Jeffries closer than before to supporting impeachment. A resolution introduced earlier in the fall to impeach Hegseth is expected to reach the House floor days after the midterm elections.

“What I’m inclined to do,” Jeffries said, “is to act consistently with what I’ve said relative to Pete Hegseth from the very beginning: I called for Pete Hegseth to be fired by Donald Trump in the spring of 2025. He is deeply unqualified.”

For Jeffries, the race in New York’s 17th District is unfinished business after Republican victories in the state helped deliver control of the House in 2022. Democrats recovered three of those five seats two years later, even as the party reeled from Trump’s reelection.

Jeffries called the district “the MAGA extremist’s last stand” and accused Lawler of pretending to be a common sense Republican while serving as “a MAGA puppet.” He expressed confidence that Conley would flip the seat while Democrats retained the New York districts they currently hold.

Winning the majority would move Jeffries within one step of the speakership and complete the generational transition that began when he succeeded Nancy Pelosi three years ago. If elected, he would become the first Black speaker of the House.

Invoking the late Rep. John Lewis, Jeffries recalled his instruction to “Keep your eye on the prize.” He also cited Shirley Chisholm while declaring that Democrats must remain “unbought and unbossed” and win the House to begin “decisively ending this national nightmare.”