Chicago City Wire

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, U.S. Representative for Washington's 3rd District, has called for the House to rebuke Representative Jesús "Chuy" García for orchestrating a ballot handoff to his chief of staff. Gluesenkamp Perez said that this action is incompatible with the spirit of the Constitution. Her statement was made in a video posted on X.

"undermining the process of a free and fair election," said Gluesenkamp Perez. "Representative Garcia's actions are beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the Constitution. the House of Representatives disapproves of the behaviour of the Representative from Illinois, Mr. Garcia."

After filing to run on October 27, 2025, García announced on November 5 that he would not seek reelection in 2026. On the last day of the filing deadline, his chief of staff, Patty Garcia (no relation), submitted her own nominating papers, effectively securing the Democratic lane in Illinois' safely blue 4th District. This move has drawn criticism for allegedly manipulating the process, even as García cited family and health reasons for stepping aside.

According to House precedent, a resolution raising a "question of the privileges of the House" receives priority consideration if properly noticed and may be scheduled by the Speaker within two legislative days. If deemed valid, it proceeds under the one-hour rule, divided equally for debate. This mechanism allows members to swiftly seek institutional censure or rebuke when conduct is alleged to affect the dignity or integrity of the House.

Ballotpedia reported that García's announcement on November 5 made him the sixth member of Illinois' U.S. House delegation to forgo reelection in 2026, contributing to an increase in open seats. Since 2011, Ballotpedia has tracked 335 House members who opted not to run again; by this point in recent cycles there were 25 retirements in 2024, 24 in 2022, 27 in 2020, and 31 in 2018. These early exits shape candidate fields well before primary ballots are set.

Gluesenkamp Perez represents Washington’s 3rd District and was first elected in 2022. A former small business owner who co-ran an auto repair and machine shop, she brands herself as an independent voice focused on pragmatic governance. Her official site highlights her background as a fifth-generation Washingtonian and her emphasis on community-rooted problem-solving in Congress.