RismadarVoice Reporters
September 2, 2026
Two centrist Democrats in the US House of Representatives have angered their party after breaking ranks to help Republican leaders overcome a conservative rebellion.
Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington on Tuesday backed a key GOP procedural vote that cleared the way for Republicans to advance several bills.
The move also paved the way for a priority bill sponsored by Golden to protect Maine lobstermen from costly regulations. The legislation already has White House backing, with Golden and his supporters hoping it becomes law this year.
However, their votes also enabled Republicans to proceed with messaging measures opposed by Democrats, including a resolution condemning socialism that the GOP hopes to use against Democrats in the 2026 campaign.
The defections immediately triggered anger within the Democratic caucus, with several members and party leaders saying they were blindsided.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the two lawmakers did not inform Democratic leadership before voting, describing the move as a “significant breach of trust.”
Jeffries said the possibility of disciplinary action against the lawmakers was “under discussion.”
In a joint statement with Democratic leaders Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, Jeffries said the vote “necessitates a serious response” and called for the House Caucus Rules Committee to consider the matter quickly.
Golden defended his decision, saying his vote was motivated solely by his effort to protect Maine’s lobstermen.
“My constituents don’t care about the team sports of Congressional procedure,” he said.
Democrats, however, argued that the two defections also spared Republicans a potentially embarrassing defeat that could have disrupted the House’s legislative schedule for the rest of September.
Members of the minority party typically vote together against procedural measures needed by the majority to advance legislation.
The Republican leadership had been struggling to move its agenda forward after conservative lawmakers, including Rep. Chip Roy, opposed a Senate-passed stopgap funding bill.
Conservatives objected to the measure because it did not include their priorities, including provisions targeting what they describe as “mass surveillance” and additional funding for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
The standoff left Speaker Mike Johnson facing another challenge from within his own party until the two Democrats crossed the aisle to provide the votes Republicans needed.
