Last Thursday, we reported on the gripping internal conflict among Democrats, which unfolded on the House floor just before the critical vote to end what has been dubbed the Schumer Shutdown. The high-stakes drama underscored tensions within the Democratic Party, revealing cracks in unity at a pivotal moment.

The controversy was ignited by Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, who introduced a privilege resolution that stirred discontent among some of her fellow House Democrats, notably including Minority Whip Katherine Clark from Massachusetts. The resolution aimed to censure Representative Jesús “Chuy” García of Illinois. At the heart of the issue was García’s alleged maneuvering to pave the way for his chief of staff, Patty Garcia, to succeed him in Congress, as he has announced that this term will be his last.

To understand the situation, we need to look back to October 27th, when García filed his candidacy for reelection. However, just before the November 3rd deadline for candidate filing closed, Patty Garcia also submitted her candidacy papers. This last-minute filing fueled speculation that García had a sudden change of heart regarding his reelection plans. He later confirmed that he would not be seeking another term, citing personal health and family considerations. This move effectively left Patty Garcia without any opposition in both the primary and general elections, sparking accusations of orchestrating a political setup reminiscent of classic Chicago political maneuvering.

In a nutshell, on October 27th, Garcia filed to run for reelection. Just minutes before the November 3rd candidate filing deadline expired, however, Patty Garcia also filed to run for the seat, sparking rumors that Rep. Garcia had abruptly decided against running for reelection, something he confirmed soon after, citing health and family concerns. This ensured Patty Garcia had no primary or general election opponent, a classic “Chicago Way” moment if there ever was one.

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 18, 2025