House advances measure to censure outgoing Democrat García for purported ploy to handpick successor

The House has advanced a measure to censure retiring Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García for a purported ploy to handpick his successor.

Washington Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced the resolution for the controversial timing of García's retirement announcement, which ensured that his chief of staff would be the only Democratic candidate in the race to succeed him, The Hill news outlet reported.

A motion to table the resolution failed Monday by a vote of 211-206, with retiring Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez being the only two Democrats to support the resolution. The resolution accuses García of “undermining the process of a fair and free election,” and claims his actions are “incompatible with the spirit” of the Constitution.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said regarding the measure, “I do not support this so-called resolution of disapproval. And I strongly support Congressman Chuy García. He’s been a progressive champion in disenfranchised communities for decades — including during his time in Congress — and he’s made life better for the American people.”

García, 69, initially filed to run for reelection in Illinois’ 4th Congressional District on Oct. 27. However, he later announced that he would retire, noting that his family needs him.

The announcement came after the Nov. 3 filing deadline had passed. García's chief of staff, Patty García, who he is not related to, filed to run just before the state board’s 5 p.m. deadline on Nov. 3.

The congressman endorsed his chief of staff, saying she “knows the issues, knows the players in Washington, and has the talent and heart to deliver real results for working families.”

Gluesenkamp Perez told CNN on Sunday that “it’s not fun to call out a member of your own party.”

“But I think it’s important that we’re consistent and … we’re loyal to the soil, we’re loyal to our constituents, and say, like, election subversion is always wrong. That’s not how we run things in this country, and that’s not the party that I want to be a part of,” she continued.

García’s spokesperson, Fabiola Rodriguez-Ciampoli, has defended the congressman's actions, saying he “made a deeply personal decision based on his health, his wife’s worsening condition and his responsibility to the grandchildren he is raising after the death of his daughter.”

“He followed every rule and every filing requirement laid out by the State of Illinois,” Rodriguez-Ciampoli added. “At a moment like this, he hopes his colleagues, especially those who speak about family values, can show the same compassion and respect that any family would want during a health crisis.”

García’s wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than 10 years ago.