Hakeem Jeffries appears well positioned to become House speaker after Democrats’ sweeping election victory. His allies now have a broader goal: making the vote a show of party unity.

With ballots still being counted, Democratic operatives hope to reach 260 House seats, which would give the party its largest majority since 1993. That cushion would allow Jeffries to withstand dozens of defections in the January floor vote, reducing the leverage of potential holdouts.

“The people want to see unity,” said Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana. “They don't want to see fighting. They don't want to see infighting.”

No sitting or incoming Democrat has announced outright opposition to Jeffries, though some new members are withholding endorsements. Rep.-elect LaKesha Womack of North Carolina said she wanted to assess other options and their agendas. Rep.-elect Zack Mullock, a New Jersey moderate, said he had “a lot to consider.”

Progressive activists continue to call for an alternative or seek policy concessions. Rep. Ro Khanna of California identified Medicare for All and the U.S. relationship with Israel as issues worth discussing before Democrats take control.

Still, Jeffries has support across the caucus. His backers include Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; former chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington; and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. He also draws strength from the Congressional Black Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition.

Democrats will vote on their speaker nominee next week, before the full House elects a speaker in January. Jeffries said Monday that he would speak with every member about the party’s record and its opportunities over the next two years.

Many Democrats want to avoid the turmoil that marked four years of narrow Republican control, including Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster as speaker in 2023.

History also offers a Democratic cautionary tale: In 2018, 32 Democrats opposed Nancy Pelosi’s return in a caucus vote, and 15 declined to support her on the House floor. Pelosi nevertheless won and later rallied the party against President Donald Trump.

Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a former Pelosi deputy, said complete agreement is unnecessary: “You can have unity and not be unanimous.”