"People are pissed off": House Dems sneer as one of their own backs a Republican
Rep. Jared Golden 's decision to endorse one of House Republicans' most vulnerable incumbents is going down like a lead balloon among his fellow House Democrats. Why it matters: The anger won't have much impact on Golden (D-Maine), who is retiring, but it could blow back on his closest ally, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.). "People are pissed off," a House Democrat speaking on the…
Rep. Jared Golden's endorsement of a Republican opponent in his own district has sparked outrage among fellow House Democrats. The disapproval is expected to have little impact on Golden, who is set to retire, but could negatively affect Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a close ally. The Washington Democrat is concerned about navigating the ensuing suspicion if elected.
Golden endorsed Republican Mike Lawler for his seat in New York, praising their past collaboration on legislation, particularly a bill exempting lobstermen from certain environmental regulations. Golden emphasized his friendship with Lawler and his commitment to fishing families. The endorsement, however, drew harsh criticism from within the Democratic caucus.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the endorsement as a futile attempt to sway voters in a district that overwhelmingly supported a Democratic candidate in the 2024 election. Other Democrats echoed this sentiment, arguing that the endorsement would not significantly benefit Lawler. House Majority PAC, the party's main super PAC, announced plans to increase spending in Lawler's media market following the endorsement.
Despite these criticisms, some Democrats have defended Lawler, citing his bipartisan record and political prowess. However, the majority view remains that Lawler is a formidable Republican opponent.
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