Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Celerity

(54,169 posts)
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 08:56 AM 11 hrs ago

4 Dems voted w/ the Rethugs to fund DHS: Cuellar (TX), Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Golden (ME), and Don Davis (NC)

All 4 are or were Problem Solvers and/or Blue Dogs, all 4 are big recipients of AIPAC money, and all 4 have had multiple horrid votes in the past (I can list them, and the list will be long, unfortunately, including shit like supporting the fascist Rethug and Trump-pushed SAVE ACT, and the racist/xenophobic Laken Riley Act, etc etc etc), plus sometimes, like in Don Davis's case with Rethug healthcare/pharma bills, have worked with Rethugs to try to undo Biden's legacy.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5770381-dhs-funding-democrats/

Four Democrats crossed the aisle Thursday and voted in favor of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill aimed at ending the partial government shutdown, despite opposition from their own leadership.

The four Democrats who joined Republicans in voting for the measure were Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.), Jared Golden (Maine) and Don Davis (N.C.). They had all voted for a largely identical DHS bill that passed the lower chamber in January.

That January vote took place before the death of 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse and U.S. citizen Alex Pretti at the hands of immigration agents sparked outrage among Democrats, leading to questions about whether the seven Democrats who voted yes in January would do so again.

Republicans had also been pressuring Democrats to support the DHS bill in the wake of the ongoing U.S. military operation against Iran, citing heightened threats to the homeland. But despite the pressure, three Democrats who voted “yes” in January opposed the funding Thursday: Reps. Laura Gillen (N.Y.), Tom Suozzi (N.Y.) and Vicente Gonzalez (Texas). Two-hundred and nine Democrats voted against the bill, which passed Thursday 221-209.

snip
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Celerity

(54,169 posts)
2. Indeed, they are all too often on the list of bad, anti-Democratic Party (and/or anti-democracy itself) votes or actions
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 09:05 AM
11 hrs ago

paleotn

(22,059 posts)
5. Davis has been problematic. But his district leans red so at least there's that.
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 09:23 AM
11 hrs ago

Golden has no excuses. He's not running again in ME-2 and can vote as he pleases. How he pleases is apparently a bit fascist.

paleotn

(22,059 posts)
3. I get Don Davis. Pisses me off but at least it makes sense. But Jared Golden isn't running again.
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 09:15 AM
11 hrs ago

What in the absolute hell is his problem?

Celerity

(54,169 posts)
8. They have a history of shit votes/actions, both are Problem Solvers. Golden and Henry Cuellar are the 2 worst House Dems
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 10:11 AM
10 hrs ago

Davis is in the bottom 10

Don Davis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Davis_(North_Carolina_politician)

Davis was among the House Democrats who voted to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib for her comments about the Gaza war.

In March 2024, Davis, Representative August Pfluger, and a news reporter wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner, which criticized the push by many members of Congress to condition U.S. aid to Israel.

In 2024, Davis was the sole Democratic co-sponsor of a Republican-led bill by representatives Greg Murphy and Brett Guthrie that would limit Medicare's ability to negotiate drug prices.

In 2025, Davis joined Republicans in voting to ban gender affirming care for transgender minors, and criminalize anyone who helps them obtain it.

On January 22, 2026, he voted to pass HR 7147 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security, including funding for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).


Jared Golden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Golden

Golden is a Blue Dog Democrat. He has advocated what he calls "progressive conservatism" and was described as an "obstinate independent" by Axios. Golden states that he hasn't attended a Democratic caucus meeting since October 2021 which his spokesperson explained by saying that it's because he is "the most independent member of his party in the House" so he "has little need" to attend those meetings.

Tariffs

In 2025, Golden was one of the only Democrats in Congress to openly support President Donald Trump's tariff policy. He criticized his party's perceived shift toward defending free trade deals and the stock market and "coming out strongly" against Trump's tariffs, advocating instead for a populist approach of "progressive conservatism." Golden expressed concern over Trump backing down from his tariff policy, telling Axios, "My biggest worry is that they're going to do this and lose faith and political will and back away."

He opposed Democratic Representative Greg Meeks' measure in the house to "kill Trump's tariffs". In January 2025, Golden introduced legislation that would put a universal 10% tariff on all imports into the U.S. His stance put him at odds with House Democrats. Golden also dismissed the 2025 stock market crash that followed President Trump's tariffs saying, "The vast majority of Americans have no stocks."

Presidency of Donald Trump

In an op-ed written in June 2024, Golden argued that "While I don't plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And I’m OK with that". He rejected the premise that a second Trump term would present "a unique threat to our democracy." and added that "Pearl-clutching about a Trump victory ignores the strength of our democracy". He argued that the members of Congress, citizens and other institutions can hold the president accountable and defend democracy. Several community and Democratic leaders of Maine criticized him for writing the op-ed and accused him of minimizing threats posed by a second Trump presidency.

Government funding

Golden was the only Democrat to have voted for the Republican stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown, voting against the instructions of House Democratic leadership.

COVID-19 pandemic

Golden in January 2023 was one of seven Democrats to vote with Republicans in favor of H.R.497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, which sought to lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. A day later, he was among 12 Democrats who supported with Republicans a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

Golden was one of two Democrats to vote with Republicans against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. He expressed concern over its proposed restrictions on qualified immunity.

June 2025 incidents

In response to the June 2025 incident involving Representative LaMonica McIver and another involving Senator Alex Padilla, Golden sharply defied his party line. He panned what he calls their "politics as theatre". Golden criticized the conduct of fellow Democrat Padilla, saying that "storming into the FBI headquarters, trying to break up a press conference, and rushing a Cabinet secretary" is not appropriate behavior for someone in public office. He said that "where I come from, if you shove a police officer, you're probably getting arrested," while also adding that this doesn't justify excessive force by law enforcement. Other Democrats disagreed with his interpretation of what happened.

Education

Golden was one of two House Democrats (the other being Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington) to side with Republicans in voting to overturn President Joe Biden's student loan debt cancellation plan of 2023.

Foreign policy

During the Gaza war, Golden opposed calls for a ceasefire. He voted in favor of providing $14.3 billion in additional funding to support Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip at the start of the war.[56] In June 2025, Golden expressed support for President Trump's strikes on Iran.

AIPAC et al have dumped millions into his coffers:



Guns

Golden was the only Democrat to vote against the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, a bill that aimed to expand background checks for gun purchases. He was also one of two Democrats, along with Ron Kind of Wisconsin, to vote against the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, a bill that sought to close the Charleston loophole. Both bills passed the House in March 2021. In 2022, Golden and Kurt Schrader of Oregon were the only Democrats to vote against raising the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

Later that year, Golden joined Republicans and four other Democrats in voting against a bill that proposed banning assault weapons. However, after the 2023 Lewiston shootings in his hometown, where 18 people were killed, Golden changed his stance. He apologized and called for a federal ban on assault weapons. He stated in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, "I really believe that any law-abiding and competent citizen should have fairly easy access to firearms." However, the shooting raised questions for him, and he stated "Am I going to start carrying an AR-15 slung over my shoulder when I go to the grocery store, when I go to a restaurant?" He noted that the odds of being in the right place to stop an active shooter were slim. "And what responsibilities do I have as a leader of the community?"

Immigration

In 2021, Golden was the sole House Democrat to oppose the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, supported by 30 Republicans, which would have allowed one million undocumented farm workers to apply for legal residency status.

In 2025, Golden was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.

On January 22, 2026, he voted to pass HR 7147 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security, including funding for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).


Infrastructure

Golden was the only House Democrat to vote with Republicans against the Build Back Better Act, citing concerns about the elimination of the $10,000 cap on the SALT deduction, "tax breaks for millionaires" in the bill and the lack of prescription drug pricing reform.

LGBT rights

Golden was one of four Democrats to join with the majority of House Republicans to pass the annual defense policy bill, which included provisions barring Pentagon funding for abortion and transgender surgeries.

Voting rights

On April 10, 2025, Golden was one of only four Democrats who joined all of the Republicans in the House in voting in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, commonly known as the SAVE Act. The bill places strict requirements to prove American citizenship in order to vote in federal elections.

paleotn

(22,059 posts)
13. Yes, I know that. But Golden doesn't have to do that now. He's not running this year.
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 12:04 PM
8 hrs ago

He's free to vote his conscience, and not in a way that makes him re-electable in ME-2. Maine isn't a monolith. Few things are really. Even VT where I live has it's conservative sections, primarily the NEK. Maine is a tale of 2 districts. ME-1 is heavily tied to Boston and the rest of New England. ME-2, for all practical purposes, is "potato land." It's lightly populated, very rural, and much more conservative than Portland, the heart of ME-1. What we're seeing is the true Jared Golden. Turns out he wasn't voting that way in order to stay in office. Something we see from many Dems elected to swing or moderately red districts. Apparently, he's Dem in name only. That was my point.

On Edit: We like to think these people always vote their conscience. Oh, hell no. That is not how this game works. Congress is good work if you can get it, and those who get it don't want to give it up if they don't have to. Sometimes that requires making compromises we would call selling out or voting in strange ways. Then again, we don't have to run for office in relatively conservative districts. The calculous for these people is very, very different than ours. Sometimes, we slip into simplistic thinking and don't take that into account.

Tim S

(193 posts)
6. Find someone to primary each one and DONATE to them
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 09:39 AM
10 hrs ago

Maybe ActBlue should be keeping track of these congress members that vote against party interests most often and offer a fund dedicated to primarying these top offenders.

mopinko

(73,575 posts)
9. cuellar just won his primary.
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 10:39 AM
9 hrs ago

he had a challenger, but he thumped him. i know nothing about the challenger.

Celerity

(54,169 posts)
11. Cuellar's challengers raised almost no money, they were no threat, YET Cuellar only won by 21 points.
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 11:43 AM
8 hrs ago


Despite the fact the new district bounderies are slighty, slightly more D than before (like 1 or 2 points at best), Cuellar is perhaps in a spot of bother against ex Democrat Tano Tijerina (a sitting judge), the Rethug primary winner by almsot 50 points. On December 10, 2024, Tijerina changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.



I think Cuellar pulls it out in the end, but it likely is going to be a close-run thing.

Celerity

(54,169 posts)
10. Golden's retiring, Davis' district was gerrymandered R to the point he may well lose, & Cuellar already won his primary
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 11:27 AM
8 hrs ago

BUT he only won by 21 points against no real opposition (he outraised his closest competitor by around 20-fold).

That leaves one hope to still primary, but the hope atm is slim:

The Problem Solver and Blue Dog (co-chair) Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in Washington-3. The primary elections will take place on August 4, 2026.

She will hopefully have some actually competitors, BUT she already has a huge warchest, and AIPAC will dump in millions to destroy her primary foes, unfortunately.

WA-3

Candidates

Declared

Brent Hennrich (Democratic), former project manager, stay-at-home parent and candidate for this district in 2022

Formed exploratory committee:

JD Rossetti, former Democratic state representative from the 19th district (2015–2016)

Filed paperwork

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democratic), incumbent U.S. representative

She has a tonne of bad votes and stances, that is for sure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Gluesenkamp_Perez

Political positions

Gluesenkamp Perez campaigned as a moderate Democrat, supporting both abortion rights and Second Amendment rights. She emphasized her focus on small businesses, job training, local issues such as the timber industry, and expressed opposition to political extremism. Following her election, she has taken a role as a co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition and has joined the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Her record has been criticized by pro-choice activists and student debt activists.

In 2025, Gluesenkamp Perez was among 10 Democrats who joined House Republicans in voting to censure Al Green for disrupting the 2025 Donald Trump speech to a joint session of Congress.

Gun control

Gluesenkamp Perez opposes an outright ban on assault weapons but supports raising the age required to purchase an assault weapon from 18 to 21.

Immigration

Gluesenkamp Perez supports the reinstatement of Title 42 expulsions and the Remain in Mexico policy to curtail illegal immigration. In July 2024, she cast one of five Democratic votes to condemn the Biden administration's handling of the United States border.

In January 2025, Gluesenkamp Perez was one of 48 Democrats to vote for the Laken Riley Act, which requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft. She later became one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for a Senate-amended version of the bill.

On January 22, 2026, she was one of seven Democrats who voted to pass HR 7147 funding bill for the United States Department of Homeland Security, including funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The vote came amid Democratic criticism of ICE operations in Minneapolis following the shooting deaths of both Renée Good and Alex Pretti in January 2026. Gluesenkamp Perez defended her vote, citing the bill's importance for the Coast Guard and FEMA in her district, stating that she "could not in good conscience vote to shut it down." She criticized both "overly aggressive tactics" by federal law enforcement and "indiscriminate, overly aggressive slogans like 'Defund ICE'" from her own party.

Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent on January 25, Gluesenkamp Perez called for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to step down, describing the shooting as "un-American." However, unlike fellow Democratic Representative Tom Suozzi who expressed regret over his vote, Gluesenkamp Perez did not retract her support for the DHS funding bill.

Military and veterans

In July 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez voted to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act that included provisions to bar Pentagon spending for abortion and transgender surgeries.

Student debt

Gluesenkamp Perez voted against a student debt relief plan proposed by the White House in 2023. She was one of only two House Democrats to do so, along with Jared Golden of Maine.

Voting rights and electoral reform

In July 2024, she was one of only five out of 198 Democrats who voted with the Republican majority to pass the SAVE Act (H.R.8281, Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), which would require those registering to vote to provide documentary proof of United States citizenship.

Again on April 10th, 2025, Gluesenkamp Perez was one of only four Democrats who joined all of the Republicans in the House in voting in favor of the SAVE Act on its second time through the House of Representatives.


I am not holding my breath atm that she will be primaried out at all. She may well lose the general (unless the WA Dems can gerrymander it more in our favour (that will take a WA state constitutional amendment, see the article below), as she barely won last time, and that fact will be pushed hard by her Dem defenders who like her conservatism/centrism and argue that her being fairly RW helps (I am NOT at sold on that, I agree we do not need a Bernie/AOC type there, but ffs, at least get someone who does vote for racist and fascist Rethug shite bills, that is hardly a lot to ask IMHO).


aocommunalpunch

(4,576 posts)
7. Is there nothing the House Dem leadership can do about this?
Sat Mar 7, 2026, 09:42 AM
10 hrs ago

Any incentives that can be revoked until they start working with the home team?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»4 Dems voted w/ the Rethu...