House Democrats Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington crossed party lines again to help House Republicans pass a key procedural vote.
The pair voted with Republicans to advance a rule that allows a package of proposals, including a Russian sanctions bill, to come to the floor for final votes.
This marks the second time in recent weeks that the two Democrats have broken ranks to assist Speaker Mike Johnson in advancing the House GOP’s legislative agenda.
Their earlier defection this month, which helped advance a Golden-authored measure aiding lobstermen, sparked significant outrage among Democratic colleagues and created a difficult situation for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The two Democrats voted to open debate on a Russian sanctions bill and on measures to roll back Environmental Protection Agency regulations opposed by many in their party.
“Congressman Golden has been a consistent supporter of America’s allies in Ukraine,” a Golden spokesperson told Fox News Digital, defending the vote on procedural grounds.
The spokesperson added that Golden “didn’t want to see the Russia sanctions bill die in a rule vote after passing with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate.”
Gluesenkamp Perez defended her vote on X, writing, “I’m proud to represent one of the largest Ukrainian communities in America,” and adding that her vote “gets us one step closer to enacting these sanctions into law.”
A person with knowledge of the discussions said Gluesenkamp Perez notified House Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts about her plan by email shortly before the vote was held.
Gluesenkamp Perez had also given Jeffries a heads up in advance, according to the same person, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal discussions.
After the first round of defections, Jeffries promised a “serious response” but later indicated there would be no public consequences following private conversations with both lawmakers.
Jeffries convened a special meeting of the Democrats’ internal rules committee to discuss potential disciplinary measures, including stripping the two members of their committee assignments, but that process ultimately fizzled without action.
Golden is retiring at the end of his current term, while Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking reelection in a district that President Donald Trump carried in 2024.
The repeated defections raise fresh questions about Jeffries’ ability to manage his caucus heading into elections where Democrats are hoping to flip control of the House.
Jeffries is also contending with fallout after two incumbents he endorsed lost their primaries to candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and after the New York Times reported on a secretive meeting he held with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
