House rebukes Illinois congressman over his succession plan, dividing Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Tuesday to reprimand Illinois Rep. Chuy Garcia over a surprising succession plan for his congressional seat, a move that divided Democrats who were angry at a member of their caucus for inciting the vote.

The House of Representatives voted 236 to 186 in favor of this measure, with 10 members not voting and four members attending. More than twenty Democratic members of the House of Representatives voted in favor of the resolution, along with all Republicans.

Read more: This poll number has not favored Democrats since before the recent blue wave

Rep. Mary Glusenkamp Perez, D-Wash., defied her party by introducing the resolution on the House floor to rebuke Garcia, who represents parts of west and suburban Chicago. She said the vote to disapprove of Garcia’s conduct was necessary because it was important to point out “election sabotage” by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Garcia announced he was not seeking re-election earlier this month before the deadline to file paperwork for the seat. By then, his chief of staff was the only candidate to submit the required papers.

“My responsibility as an elected representative of my community is to say loudly, consistently, humbly and with love that no one has the right to undermine people’s right to choose their elected representatives,” Perez said during a speech on Monday evening.

Negative reactions from Democratic lawmakers were swift.

A statement issued Tuesday before the vote from House Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, defended Garcia as a “progressive champion” and “a good man.”

“We unequivocally oppose this misguided resolution and urge our colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus to reject it,” the statement read.

Many Democratic lawmakers rallied to Garcia’s defense before the vote, emphasizing his character and history as an advocate for issues such as immigrant rights. Others booed Perez as she spoke during a debate on the House floor.

Democratic leaders urged their colleagues to oppose the measure, and many in the party said it was a distraction not worth a vote.

“This is why the Ethics Commission exists,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wrote on social media. It warned of a precedent in which “the House of Representatives will be forced to vote on a large number of individual reckless members determined by the political expediency of who represents the majority.”

He watches: The House voted overwhelmingly to force the release of the Epstein files

Nearly all House Democrats, with the exception of Perez, voted to overturn the vote on the petition Monday night, but the effort advanced with support from all Republicans.

After the full resolution prevailed on Tuesday, some Democrats sought to explain their vote against the measure.

“My vote should not be viewed as an endorsement of the actions that created this situation,” Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., said in a statement, adding that she had spoken with Garcia about his situation.

Peres thanked the members of the House of Representatives who voted in favor of the resolution. She praised Garcia for his career in public service and called the family reasons for his retirement from the House of Representatives “honorable.” But she was also frank about the tension surrounding the vote.

“It should not have caused as much friction as it did when we spoke frankly and consistently about sabotaging the election,” Perez said in a statement. He added: “Congress is a legislative body, not a social club, and the American people will not accept blind calls for party loyalty in defense of an attempt to deprive them of the right to free and fair elections.”