{"id":2634012,"date":"2026-07-23T08:19:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T12:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vulnerable-house-dems-refuse-to-say-if-theyll-back-anti-court-packing-amendment\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T08:25:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T12:25:08","slug":"vulnerable-house-dems-refuse-to-say-if-theyll-back-anti-court-packing-amendment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vulnerable-house-dems-refuse-to-say-if-theyll-back-anti-court-packing-amendment\/","title":{"rendered":"Vulnerable Dems Won&#8217;t Say If They Back Anti-Court-Packing Effort"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvulnerable-house-dems-refuse-to-say-if-theyll-back-anti-court-packing-amendment%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2634012&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrats have actively considered expanding the U.S. Supreme court with left-leaning judges, especially after a ruling against race-based redistricting. Prominent party figures like Kamala Harris and Hakeem Jeffries have expressed support for increasing the number of justices to secure favorable decisions, though publicly they often deny intentions of court-packing. In response, Republicans introduced a constitutional amendment (HJR 1) to preserve the court&#8217;s size at nine justices, which recently passed the House Judiciary Committee along party lines and may soon face full House consideration. The aim of the amendment is to deter future court-packing efforts if vulnerable Democrats support it.<\/p>\n<p>Several House democrats from competitive districts where approached for their stance; only Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar clearly opposed expanding the court, stating it should remain at nine justices to uphold stability and public confidence. Many others did not respond, and some have previously voiced opposition to increasing the court\u2019s size, but their current positions are uncertain. Meanwhile, some Democrats have proposed measures like term limits for Supreme Court justices and restrictions on their financial activities, as part of broader efforts to challenge the conservative majority.<\/p>\n<p>Much of the Democratic critique of the court centers on recent rulings that reversed decisions like Roe v. Wade and struck down regulations on firearms and other issues, with members condemning these rulings as risky and un-American. Several have also criticized the appointment of conservative justices during Donald Trump\u2019s presidency and called for investigations into reforming the court system. these developments reflect ongoing partisan battles over the composition and legitimacy of the Supreme Court.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Democrats far and wide quickly revived their efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/court-packing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pack<\/a> the U.S. Supreme Court with left-wing activists shortly after the court handed down its ruling smacking down race-based redistricting. But is that a policy the party\u2019s most vulnerable representatives support heading into the 2026 midterms?<\/p>\n<p>From former Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/14\/dem-frontrunner-floats-packing-scotus-nuking-electoral-college-as-2028-platform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kamala Harris<\/a> to House Minority Leader <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/01\/dems-revive-court-packing-threats-after-being-told-they-cant-do-racist-gerrymandering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hakeem Jeffries<\/a>, the party\u2019s most vocal partisans have not been shy about indicating their desire to increase the number of justices on the court upon retaking power. While often <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/21\/in-hearing-on-court-packings-partisan-perils-not-a-single-democrat-disavowed-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pretending<\/a> otherwise, the obvious goal of this strategy is to add enough new members to give Democrats favorable decisions in cases before the bench. <\/p>\n<p>To combat these sinister efforts, Republicans have introduced a constitutional amendment proposal (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-joint-resolution\/1\/text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HJR 1<\/a>) that would require SCOTUS to \u201cbe composed of nine justices.\u201d The measure recently <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/06\/03\/not-a-single-house-judiciary-dem-supports-amendment-keeping-scotus-at-9-justices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">passed<\/a> the House Judiciary Committee in a party-line vote and is expected to be considered by the full House in the near future. <\/p>\n<p>While amending the Constitution is easier said than done, the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/06\/03\/as-dems-renew-court-packing-scheme-activists-push-keep-nine-amendment-to-protect-scotus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hope<\/a> among the amendment\u2019s backers is that, if enough vulnerable Democrats support it, it could help dissuade a future Democrat Congress from wasting energy on court-packing if they know they don\u2019t have the numbers to pass it. <\/p>\n<p>As such, The Federalist reached out to 16 House Democrats in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">competitive<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/U.S._House_battlegrounds,_2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">districts<\/a> to see where they stand on their party\u2019s efforts to pack the Supreme Court and whether they will support HJR 1 when it comes to the House floor. As of this article\u2019s publication, only one of them responded.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement to The Federalist, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar said that he does \u201cnot support increasing the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court,\u201d and \u201cbelieve[s] the Supreme Court should remain at nine justices, as it has for more than 150 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaintaining a nine-member Court helps preserve stability and public confidence in one of our nation\u2019s most important institutions,\u201d Cuellar said.<\/p>\n<p>Cuellar did not say how he will vote on HJR 1 when it comes to the House floor, however. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Democrat Reps. Adam Gray of California; Darren Soto, Kathy Castor, and Jared Evan Moskowitz of Florida; Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan; Susie Lee of Nevada; Gabriel Vasquez of New Mexico; Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, and Josh Riley of New York; Donald Davis of North Carolina; Greg Landsman and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio; Vicente Gonzalez Jr. of Texas; and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington did not respond to The Federalist\u2019s request for comment. <\/p>\n<p>While not answering The Federalist\u2019s query, Suozzi stated in a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/hBvtH6x-Dpc?si=amtva9Zotp14m3Hm&#038;t=223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021 Fox News interview<\/a>, \u201cI don\u2019t like the idea of increasing the size of the Supreme Court. I never have.\u201d Whether he maintains that stance and will support HJR 1 to keep the high court at nine justices is unknown. <\/p>\n<p>Some of these members have thrown their support behind other measures seemingly introduced as a result of Democrat dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court\u2019s constitutional rulings. <\/p>\n<p>Both Riley and Landsman have <a href=\"https:\/\/landsman.house.gov\/posts\/landsman-riley-lead-the-drain-the-swamp-act\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sponsored legislation<\/a> that would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-ways-democrats-have-demanded-biden-reshape-the-supreme-court-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Four ways ... have demanded Biden reshape the ... - Washington Examiner\">impose 18-year term limits<\/a> on Supreme Court justices \u2014 a policy taken from a <a href=\"https:\/\/hankjohnson.house.gov\/media-center\/press-releases\/rep-johnson-re-introduces-supreme-court-justice-term-limit-measure-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bill<\/a> spearheaded by Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., a <a href=\"https:\/\/hankjohnson.house.gov\/media-center\/press-releases\/rep-johnson-sen-markey-announce-legislation-expand-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">court-packing advocate<\/a>. Landsman more recently <a href=\"https:\/\/landsman.house.gov\/posts\/landsman-leads-effort-to-ban-scotus-others-from-participating-in-prediction-markets-and-stock-trading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">introduced<\/a> a measure seeking to ban SCOTUS justices, their staff, and other federal officials from partaking in prediction markets and stock trading.<\/p>\n<p>Soto similarly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/house-bill\/8424\/cosponsors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">co-sponsored<\/a> legislation during the 116th Congress (2019-2020) that would impose term limits on Supreme Court justices.<\/p>\n<p>Many of these Democrats notably lashed out at the Supreme Court\u2019s conservative majority following the overturning of <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oyez.org\/cases\/1971\/70-18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roe v. <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/410\/113\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wade<\/a><\/em>. Castor claimed in a 2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/castor.house.gov\/news\/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403900\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a> that the court\u2019s decision was \u201cripping away our rights and freedoms,\u201d is \u201cun-American,\u201d and \u201cdownright dangerous.\u201d She continued her rant by saying, \u201cToday is a dark day in our nation\u2019s history,\u201d and \u201c[the court\u2019s] decision will be devastating for Floridians, especially our neighbors of color.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nevada\u2019s Lee has also joined in on the left\u2019s online tirade against the court\u2019s <em>Dobbs<\/em> ruling. On the four-year anniversary of the decision last month, she <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepSusieLee\/status\/2069838461851349043\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tweeted<\/a>, \u201cExtremists in <em>all branches of government<\/em> are slowly stripping away access to basic, lifesaving health care. \u2026 I\u2019ll continue to fight these extremists and protect women\u2019s right[s] to make their own medical decisions\u201d (emphasis added).<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Soto openly called for Congress to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepDarrenSoto\/status\/1970591443057045793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">retake our authority aggressively<\/a>\u201d when the Supreme Court temporarily ruled that the president can remove Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners at will last year. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/willfully-naive-plaintiffs-blast-9th-circuit-ruling-on-parental-rights-lawsuit-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"\u2018Willfully na\u00efve\u2019: Plaintiffs blast 9th Circuit ... on parental rights lawsuit - Washington Examiner\">high court recently upheld<\/a> that decision on the merits in its landmark <em><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/06\/29\/in-landmark-ruling-supreme-court-affirms-that-presidents-run-the-executive-branch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump v. Slaughter<\/a><\/em>  ruling. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith this FTC termination decision, the US Supreme Court adds to Trump\u2019s imperial presidency AGAIN,\u201d Soto tweeted in September 2025. <\/p>\n<p>Moskowitz whined about the Supreme Court\u2019s 2024 <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/cases\/garland-v-cargill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Garland v. Cargill<\/a><\/em>  ruling that struck down the regulatory ban on bump stocks, which absorb shock when shooting rifles to increase the rate of fire. The Florida Democrat <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JaredEMoskowitz\/status\/1801642637729964204?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">claimed<\/a> in an X post that the \u201cSupreme Court Justices [Trump] appointed are radically and dangerously wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Trump moved to replace deceased Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Amy Coney Barrett in 2020, Kaptur issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/kaptur.house.gov\/media-center\/press-releases\/kaptur-statement-confirmation-judge-amy-coney-barret\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a> claiming the Supreme Court\u2019s recent decisions are \u201cdeeply out of touch \u2026 with public opinion.\u201d She further proclaimed that, with Barrett\u2019s confirmation, issues like abortion and \u201cLGBTQ+ rights\u201d have \u201cnever been more threatened than they are now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Ohio Democrat also espoused support for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2020-election\/biden-calls-bipartisan-commission-propose-ways-reform-court-system-n1244271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">call<\/a> to create a commission to study \u201chow to reform the court system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gillen fearmongered in a <a href=\"https:\/\/gillen.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/rep-gillen-statement-supreme-court-decision-allowing-trump-administration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a> last month that the Supreme Court put \u201cour friends and neighbors\u2019 lives at risk\u201d after its \u201ccruel and harmful decision\u201d in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/cases\/noem-v-doe-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Mullin v. Doe<\/em><\/a>. In its 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the court ruled that the president has the authority to end the <a href=\"https:\/\/forumtogether.org\/article\/temporary-protected-status-fact-sheet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Temporary Protected Status<\/a> for hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals residing in the United States under the program. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats push court-packing efforts ahead of 2026 elections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4368,"featured_media":2634013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SCOTUS.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[78348,3685,4151],"class_list":["post-2634012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-court-packing-2","tag-democrats","tag-judiciary"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SCOTUS.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4368"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2634012"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2634016,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634012\/revisions\/2634016"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2634013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2634012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2634012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2634012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}