In a 210-208 vote on Tuesday, Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) joined 207 House Republicans and independent Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) to advance a resolution condemning socialism and several other GOP-backed bills. The procedural vote allowed debate on legislation including a resolution to denounce socialism, which had previously faced opposition from House Democratic leadership.
The outcome marked a rare instance of the minority party assisting the majority in passing a procedural rule. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stated he was not informed of the defections in advance, calling it a “significant breach of trust.” He later indicated that consequences for the two Democrats were “under discussion.” House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) also confirmed she received no advance notice from either lawmaker.
The vote occurred shortly after the House passed a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through mid-December. Five conservative Republicans—Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Andy Harris (R-MD), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Clay Higgins (R-LA), and Pete Sessions (R-TX)—voted against the rule as a protest against the CR’s passage without full GOP input. Their opposition nearly derailed the measure before Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez provided the decisive votes.
Context and Reactions
Democratic leaders expressed frustration over the unexpected defections. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated she was “disappointed” in the two Democrats’ votes, noting such actions were unprecedented during her tenure. Rep. Clark emphasized that minority party members typically vote against majority rules, calling the move a violation of unwritten House norms. She declined to specify potential disciplinary actions but indicated further discussions would occur.
The resolution to condemn socialism was among several bills advanced by the vote, including measures to punish universities that boycott Israel and amend protections for the North Atlantic right whale. The CR’s passage had already drawn criticism from conservative Republicans who opposed its provisions, including delays on a ban of hemp THC products.
Political Implications
Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez represent districts that voted for Donald Trump in 2020, with Golden aligning with Biden less than half the time and Gluesenkamp Perez ranking among the Democrats most aligned with Trump’s 2024 agenda. Their votes were seen as critical in preventing a floor shutdown, a scenario that would have forced the House to adjourn ahead of the midterm campaign season. Conservative hardliners had threatened to block the rule as retaliation for the CR’s passage, which relied on Democratic support to avoid a government shutdown.