Rep.-elect Don Leonard says senior House Democrats have threatened to make his life “a living hell” and drive him from office in 2028 if he refuses to support Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ bid for speaker.

The Ohio Democrat, who last week flipped a district long held by Republicans, said in a social media post that senior members urged him to vote for Jeffries regardless of whether the Democratic leader commits to addressing his policy demands.

Leonard is seeking action on a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, as well as an end to U.S. support for Israel and the war in Iran. He said a letter he received from Jeffries left several of his constituents’ questions unanswered.

“It’s part of the stuff you see in the movies,” Leonard said of the pressure he described. “It’s a whole other thing when it’s in person, by people who actually care about you and are cheering for you but expect you to wear the team jersey and be a good team player.”

In a separate interview with Joy Reid, Leonard said he would withhold his vote unless Jeffries committed to enforcing U.S. laws, including the Leahy Law, in relation to Israel’s conduct in Gaza and addressing the Citizens United ruling.

Jeffries’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At a Monday news conference, Jeffries, a longtime supporter of Israel, said he planned to speak with members of his caucus in the coming days.

“I’m going to work hard to talk to every single member about what we’ve been able to do together over the last two years, and what the opportunities are for us to do together in the next two years,” he said.

House Democrats are preparing for a speaker nomination vote next week. Jeffries is expected to win, with the party’s sizable new majority allowing him to lose the support of at least three dozen members.

His allies have urged Democrats to unite behind his speakership and focus on voters’ priorities rather than internal disputes. Some progressive members, however, have not committed to supporting him and hope to use the speaker election to address divisions before the new Congress convenes next year.