Two House Democrats Cross Party Lines, Igniting Caucus Backlash

WASHINGTON —

Two House Democrats broke ranks with their own leadership on Tuesday, joining Republicans to save a procedural rule that was headed for defeat, and now face calls from inside their own party for punishment.

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington voted with the GOP majority on the rule, which teed up a resolution condemning socialism and reaffirming support for the SAVE America Act, a Republican voting bill stalled in the Senate. The House later adopted the socialism resolution itself, 220 to 192, with two members voting present, according to CBS News. Eight Democrats backed that final resolution, including Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez, along with Reps. Kathy Castor of Florida, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Darren Soto of Florida and Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, CBS News reported. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire voted present.

A Breach Of Trust

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California said in a joint statement that the two lawmakers had "blindside[d] the entire House Democratic Caucus" by helping pass the rule, calling it "a significant breach of trust" that "necessitates a serious response," according to The Hill. The leaders said they had asked the Committee on Caucus Rules to take up the matter quickly. The Hill reported that some Democrats want the pair stripped of committee assignments. "We have to draw a bright line here and kick some a** or this will be the new norm," Rep. Jared Huffman of California told Axios, according to The Hill.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California told reporters, "We never had that problem," and Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts said after the vote, "No, no, no. Who are we, the Republicans?" according to The Hill. Traditionally the minority party votes against procedural rules regardless of its members' views on the underlying bill, The Hill's Helen Huiskes and Mike Lillis noted.

Golden Defends The Deal

Golden, who is not seeking reelection, said the rule also carried his own bill, the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, aimed at shielding lobstermen from regulations meant to protect the North Atlantic right whale, according to The Hill. "It was unworkable to the point where there would be hard discussions in communities about which families get to keep fishing and which had to give it up," Golden said on the Substack "Out of State," The Hill reported.

Gluesenkamp Perez told reporters she "slept like a baby last night" and was not worried about facing discipline. "If that's what they feel they need to do, it's not going to change how I represent [my district]," she said, according to The Hill.