Washington DC - Following Democrats' midterm success, speculation is heating up that Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley could challenge Hakeem Jeffries for speaker of the House.

A Change.org petition calling for Pressley to become the next House speaker has garnered more than 40,000 signatures at the time of writing.

"For many Americans, Ayanna Pressley represents a beacon of hope and integrity in a tumultuous political landscape. She is someone we can trust, whose genuine commitment to justice and equality resonates deeply with millions of us across the country," reads the petition.

"We believe that as Speaker of the House, Ayanna Pressley would bring her innovative spirit and unwavering resolve to tackle the pressing challenges facing our nation."

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Pressley has not yet said whether she will make a bid for the speakership, and Jeffries so far does not have any official challenger.

Jeffries, currently the House minority leader, needs 218 votes to become the next speaker. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said she will back him for the role, but a number of incoming progressives have refused to commit their support.

Pressley – a member of the progressive Squad – has represented Massachusetts' 7th district in the US House since 2019. She made history as the first Black woman ever elected to Congress in the state.

"The people made it clear that they don't want a Democratic Party that just asserts that they are the adults in the room. They want us to prove that we are fighters," Pressley posted on X on Wednesday.

In another post, she laid out what she thinks the party's priorities should be in the next Congress, including passing Medicare For All, expanding abortion rights, stopping data centers, and abolishing ICE.

Jeffries opposes Medicare For All and ending US military aid to Israel.