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House Democratic leaders seek disciplinary action after two centrists back Republican procedural vote

Representatives Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez voted with Republicans to pass a key floor rule, prompting leadership to refer them to the caucus rules committee.

Updated Sep 2, 2026 · 17:19 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • House Democratic leaders referred Representatives Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to the caucus rules committee for potential punishment after they backed a Republican procedural rule.
  • The 210–208 vote prevented a legislative defeat for House Speaker Mike Johnson caused by Republican dissenters and advanced a package of bills to the floor.
  • Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez defended their votes as necessary to advance bipartisan legislation protecting local waterfront and fishing industries.
  • The caucus rules committee must determine what formal disciplinary measures, if any, will be imposed against the two lawmakers.

Key facts

  • Democratic Representatives Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez voted alongside Republicans to pass a procedural rule 210 to 208, providing the decisive margin needed to avoid a floor defeat for House Speaker Mike Johnson.[The Guardian]
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar referred Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez to the Democratic committee on caucus rules, calling their unannounced votes a serious breach of trust.[The Guardian]
  • The approved rule advanced a package of bills that included a GOP resolution condemning socialism and the SAVE Act, as well as a bipartisan measure co-authored by Golden to exempt Maine's lobster industry from federal whale-protection rules.[The Guardian]
  • Golden stated he voted for the rule to ensure consideration of his lobster industry bill, while Gluesenkamp Perez cited support for working waterfront communities in Washington.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains uncertain what specific disciplinary powers the Democratic committee on caucus rules can exercise or whether lawmakers will ultimately decide to strip committee assignments from either member.[The Guardian]

Sources