Washington’s Third Congressional District U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, has once again made headlines for breaking with her party.
Gluesenkamp Perez appeared in an exclusive interview on CNN Sunday evening less than a week after she filed a motion in the U.S. House of Representatives to reprimand a fellow Democrat for what she refers to as “election subversion.”
Earlier this month, Rep. Jesus Chuy García, D-Illinois, who represents a congressional district made up largely of Chicago’s Latin community, pulled out of his race for reelection. García, who as an established incumbent faced no challengers from his own party, reportedly did not announce his retirement until after he had told his chief of staff to register to run and after the registration date. The move secured the representative's chief of staff, Patty Garcia, a spot as the only Democrat on the ballot. The two are not related.
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the House of Representatives reconvened toward the end of the recent government shutdown. During the session, Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a resolution formally known as a “question of the privileges of the house.” The resolution asked the House to formally disapprove of García’s actions. The resolution could come up for a vote as soon as next week.
Gluesenkamp Perez read the full text of the resolution she presented last week on the floor of the congressional chamber first with energy and slowly growing more calm and serious as she read. The representative laid out the details of García’s actions, referring to them as "beneath the dignity of his office” and additionally “incompatible with the spirit of the constitution.”
Gluesenkamp Perez has since received both support and criticism from other members of her own party and questions from the media over her decision to make waves within her party.
While appearing on CNN Sunday evening in an interview, host Jake Tapper commented that it's rare to see politicians call out members of their party so publicly and asked her why she chose to do so.
In response, the congresswoman emphasized a need to call out “election subversion" no matter who was doing it and at the same time broadly condemned anyone who celebrated the move from García as clever.
“You know, one of the disturbing things is that, like immediately after the news broke about how Chuy had basically chosen a successor, I saw a lot of members congratulating him on how clever and slick it was,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. “I think that galvanized me more to say that this is not something to be proud of or to emulate or copy that we have to think critically about.”
Tapper also touched on some of the criticism Gluesenkamp Perez has received as another member of Congress, Delia Ramirez, D-Illinois, criticized the congresswoman for “going after a strong progressive Latino leader.”
Others have defended García for his move to drop out of the race, citing personal challenges as his wife faces health problems and the couple has begun taking care of grandchildren after their daughter died roughly two years ago.
Gluesenkamp Perez during her interview with Tapper emphasized that the move was not about identity politics or a personal attack, insisting that she likes García and thinks she is a good person. She added that her respect for the congressman is what makes calling out his actions even more important.
“I like Chuy. I think he's a nice guy,” Gluesenkamp Perez sad.
“It can't just be the people that you don't like that you're willing to call out. You have to be willing to do it within your own family as well.”
