"Voters don't trust Jeffries": Democratic leader faces impending fight with the left (axios.com)

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) faces mounting behind-the-scenes frustration from progressive lawmakers and candidates that's likely to burst into public view after the midterm elections. Why it matters: Unless Democrats win a big enough House majority in November to govern without the progressive wing, a Speaker Jeffries would have to contend with the left flank's demands. An influx of Democratic Socialists of America-aligned members in January will compound latent distrust of Jeffries that's festering in some corners of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "He's got a lot of people mad at him," a senior House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share details of sensitive private discussions, told Axios. Mai Vang , a progressive House candidate in Northern California, told Axios: "Voters don't trust Jeffries." Driving the news: Jeffries has made several recent moves that left Progressive Caucus members fuming, according to multiple lawmakers, candidates and aides. Medicare for All: Jeffries said on NBC's "Meet the Press" last month that Medicare for All is "not legislation ... that I support." He said in a later radio interview that he supports universal coverage, but there are "different paths" to get there. Kushner meeting: Jeffries' sit-down with President Trump's son-in-law rankled progressive groups. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told reporters : "I don't know what that was about." Rule change: A proposal to penalize members who don't pay their dues to the party's campaign arm, or who break with leadership on procedural votes, was seen by progressives as a preemptive attempt to cut off dissent from the left. Combine this with long-standing progressive skepticism toward Jeffries, and you get all the ingredients for internal turmoil come Jan. 3. "Constituents have shared with me that House Democrats need to replace Jeffries," said Vang, who's running in the Sacramento area. "That's something I've heard from voters." A senior Progressive Caucus member told Axios they "consistently hear from constituents how displeased they are with the Democratic leadership, including Leader Jeffries." Between the lines: Sitting congressional progressives have largely held their fire against Jeffries over the last two years. That may change after Election Day on Nov. 3. Said the senior House progressive: "His latest comments and actions put members with dissatisfied constituents in a difficult position — do we represent our constituents or defend his leadership?" The frustration is "bigger than the new crop of folks," a second senior House progressive said. A third told Axios: "Democrats nationally want to see big changes, and that's what the caucus is going to be responding to." Zoom in: Medicare for All is proving to be the most persistent sticking point for progressives, who say they're not going to drop the issue despite Jeffries' stated opposition. Ocasio-Cortez told Axios: "The fact is, the majority of the Democra