Rep. Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia is accused of timing the exit to make sure his chief of staff would succeed him. Garcia said the decision is personal and justified.
WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives passed a resolution on Nov. 18 condemning Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.) for announcing his retirement at the last minute and effectively making his chief of staff his successor.
The tally was 236 in favor, 183 against, and four voting “present.” Twenty-three Democrats joined all 213 Republicans in voting for the resolution.
Garcia, who has been in Congress since 2019, initially filed on Oct. 27 to run for reelection. His chief of staff, Patty Garcia, filed on Nov. 5, the last day to file to run in the election. Patty Garcia and the congressman are not related.
On Nov. 6, Garcia announced he would not seek another term.
“It was a sequence of events of a really tough week for me. From my visit to the cardiologist on the first day that I filed. On Friday we adopted our grandson. So all of those things just converged all at once and led to my decision. Was this the best way to do it? People are entitled to their opinion. It’s the decision that I came to under the circumstances,” he told NBC News Chicago.
The non-binding resolution, introduced by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), states that Garcia’s last-minute switch with his chief of staff being his likely successor “[undermines] the process of a free and fair election” and is beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the United States Constitution.”
The Epoch Times has reached out to Garcia’s office for comment on the resolution.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sided with opposition to the measure.
“I do not support this so-called resolution of disapproval. And I strongly support Congressman Chuy García,” he said. “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.”
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said he supports the resolution.
