The words "Illinois Democrat" have become synonymous over the years with "rigging the system," thanks in part to the rampant gerrymandering they still laughably pretend is "fair" and to the notorious "Chicago Way"-style politics so perfectly explained by longtime Chicago columnist John Kass.
And while no one reading this will be surprised in the slightest when I share the latest example of this very thing playing out, they might be surprised by how one House Democrat chose to respond to it ahead of the Wednesday night vote to reopen the government.
Before we get to that, let's explain first what led up to it.
Democrat Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) recently announced he would not seek reelection in 2026, citing serious health matters. But the way he went about it raised eyebrows even among his fellow Democrats:
Garcia, 69, had filed to run for reelection in the 4th Congressional District on Nov. 3, but withdrew the petitions. Hours later, his chief of staff, Dr. Patty Garcia [no relation], submitted her own nominating petitions just before the Monday deadline.
The maneuver left Patty Garcia as the only Democratic candidate on the March Primary ballot—prompting accusations of old-school Chicago machine politics.
This prompted swing district Democrat Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) to call for Garcia to be condemned on the House floor Wednesday night in a move that had some House Democrats openly fuming:
Dem Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez has introduced a privilege resolution calling out Dem. Garcia for “undermining the process of a free and fair election.”
— Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaReports) November 12, 2025
Very rare for a member of the same party to request such a punishment. Whip Clark was sternly talking to MGP before hand.
Here's how it went down:
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington went to the House floor as lawmakers prepared to debate legislation reopening the government to introduce a resolution accusing García of “undermining the process of a free and fair election” and calling on the House to disapprove of his behavior.
Gluesenkamp Perez read her resolution aloud in its entirety, which calls García’s maneuver “beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the Constitution.”
[...]
A seemingly angry House Minority Whip Katherine Clark was seen making an impassioned case to Gluesenkamp Perez on the floor before she sought recognition and offered her resolution. She then spoke with Perez after she had finished.
Gluesenkamp Perez’s resolution has special standing because it was offered as a “question of privileges of the House” and could see action in the House next week.
Watch:
Perez: Whereas Rep. Chuy Garcia's actions are beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the constitution. Now therefore, be it resolved that the house of representatives disapproves of the behavior of the representative from Illinois… pic.twitter.com/iZkPsL7ziP
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 12, 2025
Because everything is stupid, Gluesenkamp Perez doing the right thing caused woke Squad member and Democrat Rep. Delia "Proud Guatemalan" Ramirez (IL-03) to yada yada on X about how Rep. Garcia was allegedly "an unwavering fighter for our democracy" despite ensuring his chief of staff had no competition in what should have been a race to replace him, even in a solidly blue district.
Even more predictably, Ramirez trotted out the "Latino" card because we totally know that's what this was really about:
Going after a strong progressive Latino leader the same day that you vote for a slush fund for Republicans involved in January 6 does not scream democratic values.
@RepChuyGarcia has been an unwavering fighter for our democracy and our communities. It is disappointing that someone willing to compromise working families’ healthcare would use this moment for a cheap political stunt aimed at distracting people from an indefensible vote on tonight's CR.
Delia “I am a proud Guatemalan before I am an American” Ramirez thinks we should look the other way from Chuy’s undemocratic anointing of his successor, because he is a progressive Latino. https://t.co/kaaJKW4UZJ pic.twitter.com/2aHLpcOMZa
— A.J. Manaseer (@AJManaseer) November 13, 2025
It's what Democrat Privilege looks like because, remember, folks: It's always (D)ifferent when they do it. Always.
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