Representative Hakeem Jeffries stood inside a union hall in Pennsylvania\u2019s Lehigh Valley on Sunday, under a banner that read \u201cAFFORDABLE\u201d in oversize red letters.<\/p>\n
In case the message was not clear enough, the lectern the New York Democrat stood behind blared the same slogan \u2014 \u201cFighting for an Affordable America\u201d \u2014 with the word \u201caffordable\u201d several sizes larger than the others.<\/p>\n
Then Mr. Jeffries, who was here in one of the nation\u2019s most competitive congressional districts to mark the final 100 days of a campaign he hopes will win his party the House majority and him the speakership, made sure nobody missed the pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cHouse Democrats are fighting for an affordable America,\u201d Mr. Jeffries told the crowd of several dozen supporters gathered in Bethlehem. \u201cHouse Democrats are fighting to lower the cost of groceries, gas and housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is a theme that Democrats are betting will rally voters behind them as they battle for control of Congress, and Mr. Jeffries has made it clear that he means to keep returning to it time and again as he works to persuade voters to reject Republicans in places like this one around the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat American dream is fading,\u201d Mr. Jeffries said. \u201cAnd the leaders who should be fighting to keep the dream alive are putting it further out of reach.\u201d<\/p>\n
The final months of the midterm election cycle offer Democrats considerable opportunity but also growing uncertainty. The party needs to gain only a handful of seats to win the House. Public polls show Democrats with an edge when it comes to voters\u2019 preference for Congress<\/a>, and Democratic candidates in key races have a slight financial advantage<\/a>.<\/p>\n But the map leaves little room for error. And a succession of progressive primary victories over tenured Democrats more closely aligned with leadership has raised fresh questions about the makeup and unity of any majority Mr. Jeffries can manage to assemble<\/a>.<\/p>\n With members of House back in their home states for a five-week summer recess, Mr. Jeffries\u2019s appearance in Bethlehem was the opening stop of what he hopes will be an aggressive closing push through the districts that will decide control of the House.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is no longer a marathon,\u201d he told the crowd of supporters. \u201cIt\u2019s a sprint.\u201d<\/p>\n According to figures provided to The New York Times by Mr. Jeffries\u2019s team, he has helped to raise $137 million for House Democrats during the second quarter, including money to protect vulnerable incumbents and to boost candidates in their \u201cRed to Blue\u201d program targeting seats they see as crucial flips to claim the majority.<\/p>\n He was here in Pennsylvania with Bob Brooks, a firefighter and union leader who is challenging Representative Ryan Mackenzie, a first-term Republican who narrowly won the seat in 2024. Kicking off the final sprint in the state underscored its importance in Mr. Jeffries\u2019s push for the majority; Democrats are also looking to flip three other congressional districts in Pennsylvania now held by Republicans.<\/p>\n Later this week, the leader is scheduled to headline events in New York, with stops including Buffalo and Rochester, before traveling to Southern California to continue fund-raising for Democratic candidates.<\/p>\n Mr. Brooks presented himself on Sunday as a political outsider whose own life reflected the economic pressures that Democrats have made central to the campaign. He recalled working as a paperboy, pizza delivery driver, dishwasher and bartender, and made the case to the crowd that he was best to address the economic pressures voters face.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand them because I\u2019ve lived them,\u201d Mr. Brooks said to nods of approval. \u201cI\u2019ve lived in public housing. I\u2019ve relied on food stamps when times were hard. I\u2019ve had to choose between paying the medical bills and paying the mortgage.\u201d<\/p>\n