The House of Representatives voted on a symbolic resolution to rebuke Rep. Chuy García of Illinois for his decision to retire after the filing deadline, a move that has drawn criticism for potentially enabling his chief of staff to be elected as his successor in the 2026 midterms. The resolution, which passed 236-183, received bipartisan support, reflecting internal Democratic divisions over the matter.
Democrats have been deeply divided over the issue since Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a purple-district moderate, introduced the nonbinding resolution through a fast-track process that caught her colleagues off guard. Gluesenkamp Perez, who frequently diverges from her party’s consensus, faced backlash for her antagonism toward García, which many Democrats saw as exceeding acceptable limits. Democratic leaders attempted to block the resolution but failed, with Gluesenkamp Perez and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) aligning with all Republicans to prevent its elimination.
García, who has denied wrongdoing, claimed his decision to retire earlier this month was based on personal health and family needs. However, some Democrats struggled to justify the timing of his chief of staff’s election filing, which appeared to clear the primary field. Those who supported the disapproval resolution dismissed it as a personal matter, with Gluesenkamp Perez emphasizing that the focus should be on fair representation rather than subversive tactics.