The House rejected House Democratic leadership's proposal Monday night to introduce a resolution condemning Illinois Democratic Rep. Chuy Garcia for “election subversion.”
Lawmakers voted 211 to 206 against introducing a resolution by Washington Democratic Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez condemning her fellow Democrat for effectively selecting her successor. The House Democratic leadership's attempt to kill the resolution is a prime example of the fight among Democrats over the controversial behavior of lawmakers within their ranks. (RELATED: Why Six Democrats Challenged Hakeem Jeffries to End the Shutdown)
Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden was the only House Democrat to join Glusenkamp Perez in rejecting the Democratic leadership's attempt to scuttle the measure. Golden, a moderate Democrat who often crosses party lines, does not looking for re-election.
Garcia announced he retired in early November after the application deadline, citing his wife's declining health and a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren.
His chief of staff, Patty Garcia, who has no connection to the congressman, announced her candidacy hours before the filing deadline, making her the automatic nominee in the Democratic primary to succeed him.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced his opposition to the resolution Monday, arguing that Garcia has been a “progressive champion” for decades. The top Democrat would not comment directly on whether he approved of Garcia's retirement gambit.
“I strongly support Congressman Chuy Garcia,” Jeffries said.
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 8: Congressman Chuy Garcia speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill on December 8, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for SEIU)
Gluesenkamp Perez, the resolution's author, said Democrats must condemn Garcia for effectively depriving voters of an alternative to his hand-picked successor.
“I believe that subversion of elections is wrong, no matter who does it,” Glusenkamp Perez said CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday. “What we're seeing right now is a deep, very loud call from Americans for transparency and accountability, and this is an integral part of that.”
“It’s not nice to call out a member of your party, but I think it’s important that we be consistent,” Glusenkamp Perez continued.
The Washington Democrat represents a battleground House district and has crossed party lines several times this year to support GOP-backed legislation. Glusenkamp Perez was one of six Democrats support reopened the government on Wednesday and sharply criticized her party's shutdown strategy
Garcia's office tried to stop the resolution from passing by distributing a discussion note to Hill's offices summarizing his defense.
“Voters want Congress to work on accessibility, not use the platform for divisive and distracting political attacks,” the Congress said. document Retrieved by Politico.
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and unbiased news service, is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher that can reach a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our policies or partnerships with us, please contact [email protected].
