Key Jeffries ally urges Democrats to ‘focus’ on November amid floor drama
A close ally of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized that the Democratic Party should focus on winning the upcoming House elections, especially as Jeffries considers potential consequences for two moderate Democrats-Jared Golden and marie Gluesenkamp perez-who broke party ranks. Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez supported a procedural vote supporting bills including a GOP resolution denouncing socialism, which upset leadership. Despite speculation about repercussions, Rep. Gregory Meeks stated the focus remains on election victory and unity within the party. Jeffries condemned the defections as a breach of trust and indicated the party’s rules committee will address the issue. Both Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez defended their votes, citing legislative priorities, and expressed confidence in their positions despite the party’s displeasure.
A top ally of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said the party should “stay focused on winning the House,” as the Democratic leader weighs repercussions for two centrist Democrats who crossed party lines on Tuesday, which forced a divisive vote condemning socialism.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), a senior House Democrat with close ties to Jeffries and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC chairman, would not say if he supported Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) are being punished for bucking leadership, telling the Washington Examiner that their focus is on winning the November elections.
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“I want to stay focused on winning,” Meeks said. “Anything else is minor, and you know, takes your eyes off the prize. You got 61 days; one goal: win the House.”
Democratic leadership is exploring possible repercussions for Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez, who defected from leadership to support bringing a package of bills to the full House floor, including a GOP-led resolution denouncing socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America.
Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez have defended their votes to unlock the House floor, saying they voted yes so that a bill supporting Maine lobstermen and championed by Golden, who is retiring, could come to the floor.
Meeks downplayed the defections, saying that Democrats are “united.”
“I know some want to make it an issue to try to take our eyes off of what we’re doing and focusing, especially some of my Republican colleagues,” Meeks said, “But you’ll see that, you know, as it has been under the case with Hakeem Jeffries as the leader, we’ve been as united as we ever have been.”
Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday that the defections were a “significant breach of trust,” and Democratic leadership, consisting of Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA), signaled in a statement that there would be repercussions.
“The decision by two of our colleagues to blindside the entire House Democratic Caucus and join with the Republican majority to pass a procedural rule on the brink of failing represents a significant breach of trust,” the trio said. “It is an action that necessitates a serious response, and we have asked the Committee on Caucus Rules to take this up in short order.”
Jeffries told the Washington Examiner that the Democratic committee on caucus rules met Wednesday morning to discuss the defections.
When asked if the pair should have notified leadership that they planned to go against the party line, Meeks told the Washington Examiner, “I mean, that’s what happened before.”
“You have that conversation, and we move on,” he said.
JEFFRIES BLINDSIDED AFTER TWO HOUSE DEMOCRATS JOIN GOP TO FORCE VOTE ON DENOUNCING SOCIALISM
When asked by reporters if she was worried about being punished for her vote, Gluesenkamp Perez told reporters that she “slept like a baby last night.”
“If that’s what they feel they need to do, it’s not going to change how I represent,” she said.
Lauren Green contributed to this report.
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