A trio of vocally pro-Israel House Democrats were given powerful posts on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, with one taking the reins of the subcommittee that oversees U.S.-Middle East policy. Why it matters: It is a substantial win for the party's pro-Israel wing despite growing pro-Palestinian sentiment among the party's grassroots. - And it could have global ramifications, with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) indicating that, if he becomes chair of the Middle East and North Africa subcommittee next year, he will use the position to shore up U.S. support for Israel. - "If Democrats take control of the House, I'll be in a position to help steer U.S. policy on Israel and the Middle East," he told Axios. Driving the news: In…
Don't expect a lot of public lamentations from House Democrats next month if Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) loses to his Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed primary opponent. Why it matters: That would be a drastic deviation from recent DSA primary wins , which set off alarm bells among the Democratic establishment. - In the telling of both progressive and moderate House Democrats, Thanedar's anomalous political profile and the makeup of his district will make it difficult to extrapolate from the results of his race. - "It's somewhat of a unique circumstance," Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), a top ally of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), told Axios. - Another House Democrat, granted anonymity to offer a blunter…
An impending House vote to constrain the Trump administration from joining Israel's war in Lebanon has some Democrats fuming that one of their own members is forcing them to take an agonizing vote. Why it matters: That anger could cost the measure, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), a significant amount of crucial Democratic support. - The vote has attracted far more widespread opposition within the party than Iran war powers resolutions, according to numerous lawmakers and aides familiar with the behind-the-scenes dynamic. - "People are not happy," one senior House Democrat told Axios, "that she is making people take this vote." State of play: The House is scheduled to vote this week both on both a Democratic leadership-led…
House Democrats are one step closer to finally getting a successful Iran war powers vote as their last holdout plans to flip and at least one Republican says they may follow suit. Why it matters: While the vote would be largely symbolic — President Trump could veto the measure — Democrats believe it would be a crucial rebuke of the conflict. - House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.), one of the lawmakers leading the measure , told Axios he is "feeling pretty good" about its chances of passing on Thursday. - Another senior House Democrat, asked if party leadership is confident about the vote, told Axios: "Yes." Driving the news: Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), the one Democrat who has consistently voted against…
House Democrats on Wednesday secured the necessary signatures to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and force a vote on a package of Russia sanctions and billions of dollars in Ukraine aid. Why it matters: This is the eighth time in the last three years that a discharge petition has been used by some combination of Democrats and Republicans to do an end-run around GOP leadership. - Just in the 119th Congress, lawmakers have succeeded in garnering the necessary 218 signatures to force votes on a half dozen bills covering everything from proxy voting in the House to releasing the Epstein files to extending Affordable Care Act tax credits . - Now they will get a vote on supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia — though likely not…
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) is facing growing calls from Democrats to resign over what they say is her agreement with a radio host's derogatory comments about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Why it matters: The firestorm comes as Kiggans, who has denied any wrongdoing, is running for reelection in one of the most hotly contested battleground districts in the country. - More than a dozen House Democrats — including Jeffries' top two lieutenants — had called for Kiggans to resign as of Tuesday afternoon, with others vowing to unseat her in November either way. - Kiggans said in a post on X : "The radio host should not have used that language and I do not -and did not - condone it. It was obvious to anyone listening that I…
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) is facing calls to resign from Democratic colleagues who say she expressed agreement with a radio host's remark that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) should get his "cotton-picking hands off of Virginia." Why it matters: Kiggans, who denied agreeing with or condoning the language, is facing one of the most hotly contested reelection battles in the country. - "First they gutted the Voting Rights Act. Now they are using brazenly racist language to attack Black leaders," House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) said in a post on X , calling for Kiggans to "immediately apologize and resign." - Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and a close ally of Jeffries,…
A group of House Democrats is discussing plans to force a vote on an Iran war powers every day until one finally passes or U.S. operations in the region end, Axios has learned. Why it matters: It's the kind of showy flood-the-zone tactic that the Democratic grassroots is constantly trying to get the party's lawmakers to pursue in resisting the Trump administration. - It's not clear if House Democratic leadership will get behind the tactic, but even some centrists aren't immediately dismissing the proposal. - "I'd welcome it," Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), who represents battleground-district members in leadership, told Axios. - "I've voted for it twice," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.). "I'll vote for it as many times as we need."…
House Democrats failed Thursday to pass a war powers resolution that would constrain President Trump's ability to wage war with Iran. Why it matters: It is the third time Democrats have tried and failed to pass an Iran war powers resolution, which some lawmakers fear will be seen as a green light to the Trump administration to keep ignoring Congress. - The measure, introduced and forced to a vote by House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), failed 213 to 214. What happened: Centrist Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted with Republicans against the measure, while libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voted with Democrats to pass it. - Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), who voted to pass an Iran war powers…
House Democrats chose not to force a vote this week to block President Trump from unilaterally waging war with Iran in part out of fear that they still lacked the votes to pass the measure, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The move is frustrating the Democratic grassroots, with some progressive groups and lawmakers fuming over the fact that another vote won't be possible until mid-April. - Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) told Axios there is "absolutely" frustration among lawmakers on the left that an Iran war powers resolution didn't get a vote this week. - "Democrats should absolutely be forcing Republicans to vote on stopping this war as urgently as possible," Andrew O'Neill, national advocacy director at the progressive group…