Forced vote stirs conflict among "very frustrated" House Dems
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Rep. Chuy Garcia speaks at a press conference in Chicago on Nov. 4. Photo: Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) has some of her fellow House Democrats enraged for forcing an upcoming vote to denounce Rep. Chuy García (D-Ill.) for essentially ensuring his chief of staff will replace him in Congress.
Why it matters: Gluesenkamp Perez is leveling charges of "election subversion" at her colleague, but some Democrats groan that her move divides the party when it should be at its most unified.
- One House Democrat told Axios "people were extremely frustrated last week" when Gluesenkamp Perez triggered the vote just before the House passed a government funding bill that Democrats largely opposed.
- A senior House Democrat told Axios members are also "very pissed" that her move is causing Democratic infighting ahead of an expected vote this week on forcing the release of the Epstein files.
Driving the news: House Democratic leadership is planning a motion to table — essentially quash — Gluesenkamp Perez's resolution when it comes up Monday evening, according to multiple lawmakers familiar with the matter.
- The two-page measure disapproves of García announcing his retirement after his state's filing deadline, allowing his chief of staff, Patty García, to become the only candidate on the primary ballot.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said at a press conference that he "strongly" supports García and referred to Gluesenkamp Perez's motion as a "so-called motion of disapproval."
The details: "Representative García's actions are beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the United States Constitution," the measure says.
- García has said he planned to run for reelection until being urged by his doctor and wife to drop out at the last minute due to his health and family obligations.
- His office sent talking points to colleagues on Monday arguing he "followed all requirements and deadlines under Illinois law" and that the vote "creates distraction and divisiveness among Democrats."
- Another argument García's office is pushing: "This motion is a ploy that our opponents will use for their own gain."
What they're saying: Several centrist Democrats indicated to Axios that they may break with their party leadership and side with Gluesenkamp Perez on the vote to table.
- Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), a close ally of Gluesenkamp Perez, signaled disagreement with García's tactics by noting in an interview that he opted to announce his own retirement months before his state's filing deadline.
- "If I know I'm going to get done then I should get done so that there is time and space for people to make the decision to offer their name. ... Every day that I now wait is taking time away from someone else," he said.
- Said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio): "Voters should decide elections, not politicians. ... I definitely disapprove of what they did."
Between the lines: Another centrist House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, predicted at least a "handful" will vote for the resolution.
- But, the lawmaker added, there "could be a jailbreak" in which even more House Democrats defect from leadership if it looks like the motion to table will fail.
Yes, but: Not every centrist is backing Gluesenkamp Perez in this fight. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said he is siding with House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) instead.
- "I will vote with Clark to table it," Cuellar, a centrist who has also served on Clark's whip team, told Axios in a text message.
- Progressives are also largely standing with García, with one telling Axios — on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about a colleague — that Gluesenkamp Perez's motion is "incredibly stupid."
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say that Garcia announced his retirement after Illinois' ballot filing deadline (not before). It has been updated with additional reporting.
