A procedural vote in the House Rules Committee has opened a rift inside the Democratic caucus after two members broke with their party to help clear the way for a Republican resolution condemning socialism.
Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington’s 3rd District and Jared Golden of Maine’s 2nd District cast votes that allowed the GOP resolution to advance. The fallout was immediate and visible.
During testimony by Gluesenkamp Perez before the Rules Committee on Wednesday, Ranking Member Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, who is 66, was photographed with his back turned to her as she spoke. She was testifying about proposed changes to House rules, including a congressional sexual harassment policy.
McGovern later told the Washington Examiner he was not paying attention during her testimony.
“I really wasn’t interested and paying attention,” McGovern said.
He added that his frustration stemmed from not being told in advance that Gluesenkamp Perez would vote for the rule.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t even get the courtesy of even a heads up that she was going to vote [for] the rule,” he said.
McGovern also dismissed the underlying Republican resolution as “nonsense” and argued the GOP should instead be focused on the cost of living.
“So you’re concerned about rising gas, or are you concerned about grocery prices? You know, don’t worry,” he said. “Republicans in Congress are passing another non-binding resolution condemning socialism.”
Leadership Response
The reaction from party leadership went beyond one committee room. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said he received no advance warning of the defections and referred questions to Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts. Jeffries described the votes as a “significant breach of trust” and referred Gluesenkamp Perez and Golden to the Committee on Caucus Rules. Some members have floated stripping the two of their committee assignments.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi also weighed in, saying a member voting for the other party’s rule was something “we didn’t even consider” during her time holding the gavel, and that she was “disappointed.”
The episode underscores the pressure facing Democrats who break from the caucus line on procedural votes, even on matters that don’t concern the underlying substance of a resolution but merely the process by which it comes to the floor.
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