House Democrats on Monday failed to block a rare disapproval resolution – led by a member of their own caucus – accusing retiring Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill) of “election subversion” over a scheme to hand-pick his successor.
House Democrats on Monday failed to block a rare disapproval resolution – led by a member of their own caucus – accusing retiring Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill) of “election subversion” over a scheme to hand-pick his successor.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) introduced the resolution against the Illinois congressman after he abruptly announced his retirement past the filing deadline for primary candidates, which Garcia’s chief of staff met just in the nick of time.
Garcia’s apparent dirty trick allows his aide, Patty Garcia (no relation), to run unopposed in the Illinois 4th Congressional District Democratic primary.
In a 206-211 vote, an attempt to kill Gluesenkamp Perez’s resolution and avert an intraparty debate on the House floor failed.
“I do not support the so-called resolution of disapproval, and I strongly support Congressman Chuy Garcia,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said ahead of the vote. “He has been a progressive champion in disenfranchised communities for decades.”
Two Democrats – Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Gluesenkamp Perez – voted with Republicans to move the resolution forward.
