House reprimands Illinois congressman over succession plan, angering
Democrats
[November 19, 2025]
By MATT BROWN
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Tuesday to reprimand Illinois Rep.
Chuy Garcia over an eyebrow-raising succession plan for his
congressional seat, a move that divided Democrats who were furious with
a member of their own caucus for triggering the vote.
The House voted 236-186 for the measure, with 10 members not voting and
four voting present. More than two dozen House Democrats voted for the
resolution, along with all Republicans.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., defied her party by introducing
the resolution on the House floor to rebuke Garcia, who represents parts
of western Chicago and its suburbs. She said the vote disapproving of
Garcia's conduct was necessary because it's important to call out
“election subversion” by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Garcia announced he was not seeking reelection earlier this month just
before the deadline to file paperwork for the seat. By then, his chief
of staff was the only candidate who had submitted the needed paperwork.
“My responsibility as an elected representative of my community is to
say loudly and consistently, humbly and with love that no one has the
right to subvert the right of the people to choose their elected
representatives,” Perez said during a Monday evening floor speech.
Blowback from Democratic lawmakers was swift.
A Tuesday statement 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
said.
Multiple Democratic lawmakers rallied to Garcia's defense ahead of the
vote and attested to his character and history as an advocate on issues
like immigrant rights. Others jeered and booed at Perez as she spoke
during a debate on the House floor.
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Democratic leaders had urged their colleagues to oppose the measure
and many in the party argued it was a distraction that did not merit
a vote.
“This is why the Ethics Committee exists,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
D-N.Y., wrote on social media. She warned about a precedent where
the House “will be forced to vote on a slew of individual member
indiscretions determined by political convenience of whoever is in
the majority.”
Nearly every Democrat in the House except Perez voted to quash a
vote on the petition Monday night, but the effort advanced with the
backing of all Republicans.
After Tuesday's full resolution prevailed, 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.
Perez thanked the House members who voted for the resolution. She
commended Garcia for a career of public service and called his
familial reasons for retiring from the House “honorable.” But she
was also frank about the tension surrounding the vote.
“It shouldn’t have caused as much friction as it did to speak
honestly and consistently about election subversion,” Perez said in
a statement. “Congress is a legislative body, not a social club, and
the American people will not accept blind calls to party loyalty in
defense of an effort to deny them the right to a free and fair
election."
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