Representatives Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington voted with Republicans on a House procedural rule on Tuesday, a move that blindsided Democratic leaders and narrowly saved Speaker Mike Johnson’s legislative agenda. The rule passed 210-208, with the two Democrats providing the margin of victory after five Republicans defected over frustrations with a separate government funding measure.
The vote marked an extraordinary breach of House tradition. In the chamber, minority party members almost never vote for procedural rules, regardless of their position on the underlying bills. “That came as a surprise,” Democratic Whip Katherine Clark told reporters immediately after the vote, according to The Hill. “It’s one of the rules of being on a team, is that we vote against the rule.”
Golden explained his vote by pointing to his Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, a bill included in the rule package that would extend a moratorium on new North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations from 2028 to 2035. “I think any member of Congress who introduces a bill for their constituents would be insane to turn around and sink a rule that contains that bill,” Golden said, according to Politico. “So I think that’s pretty straightforward, right? Like, you came here to represent some people, you got to stand by them when it counts.”
Gluesenkamp Perez issued a statement suggesting she voted for the rule to ensure the lobster bill advanced. “What the DC bubble doesn’t get is that working waterfronts require working people,” she said, according to Politico. “Nature is not a terrarium — and you don’t get effective environmentalism without the input of people who make their livelihoods and heritage on the water.”
Both lawmakers are members of the centrist Blue Dog Democrats caucus. Golden is retiring after this term and is not seeking reelection in November, while Democrats lead 2026 midterm election polls by 6 points, according to recent surveys.
The five Republicans who voted against the rule were protesting a separate continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11. That spending bill passed later Tuesday under a suspension of the rules, which denied the GOP holdouts any chance to block it. The continuing resolution passed the House 370-48 and heads to President Trump’s desk after clearing the Senate.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed astonishment at the Democratic defection. “I, as speaker, never — we didn’t even consider that anybody would do that,” Pelosi told reporters, according to Politico. “We never had that problem, so I’m disappointed that they did that.”
The rule sets up debate on a batch of GOP bills, including a resolution condemning socialism that Republicans plan to use as a key midterm message. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said he was caught off guard by the Democratic votes. “I don’t count Democratic votes,” he told reporters, according to Politico.
Democratic leadership received no advance notice of Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez’s intentions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters he “didn’t get a heads up,” and Clark said she had not spoken to the two lawmakers since they cast their votes.
Sources
- The Hill — confirmed the rule vote passed 210-208 with Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez’s votes, the five Republican defectors, and Democratic leaders’ surprise reaction
- Politico — detailed the two Democrats’ rationale for their votes, Pelosi’s statement, the lobster bill’s contents, and Blue Dog membership
- Bangor Daily News — reported on Golden’s Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act and the government funding bill details
