Category: House democrats
Democrats dump Eric Swalwell after sexual assault allegations implode his career
Democrats have turned on California Rep. Eric Swalwell after former staffers accused him of sexual assault and other sexual misconduct, prompting the gubernatorial hopeful to scrap his campaign altogether.
Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor just two days after several bombshell reports cited ex-staffers accusing the congressman of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior. Although Swalwell has denied all the allegations, pressure in the form of leaked videos, investigations, and rescinded endorsements pushed the lawmaker to drop out Sunday.
‘We should take her story seriously.’
“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell said in a statement on X. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.”
“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP/Getty Images
Swalwell’s trouble did not stop there, with dozens of his colleagues condemning the congressman in the immediate aftermath of the reports about the allegations.
“I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a statement on X. “This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.”
“Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California’s next Governor,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a post on X. “This is unacceptable of anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously.”
Not only did Democrats call for a full-fledged investigation, but several lawmakers and former staffers called for Swalwell’s removal from office.
RELATED: ‘I made a mistake’: Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who set herself on fire
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Lawmakers are now leading a bipartisan effort to expel Swalwell and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who similarly suspended his re-election campaign after admitting to an affair with a former aide who tragically took her own life by setting herself on fire.
“I’ve seen enough,” Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California said in a post on X. “With his nuanced statement aimed at defending likely criminal charges, Swalwell all but admits a per se abuse of power under House ethics rules: sex with a subordinate.”
“He must now drop out of the Governor’s race and resign from Congress. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who admitted to the same violation, should also resign. If they don’t, I will support voting to expel both of them.”
The overcrowded Democratic primary for California governor is now down to five candidates. Notably, Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco are leading the general election polls, but Swalwell’s support is likely to shift to the remaining Democrats.
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Texas Democrat sworn in to House, shrinking GOP margin to 1 vote
Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas), a former Harris County, Texas, attorney, was sworn in as a member of the House on Monday after winning the special election runoff for the late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s (D-Texas) seat last week. “It’s been more than 330 days since the people of the 18th Congressional District had representation, had a…
Exclusive: Republicans pen OMAR Act, targeting lawmakers who have ‘blurred’ ethical lines
Republican lawmakers are pushing new legislation on Capitol Hill aimed at reining in members of Congress who take advantage of campaign finances for personal gain.
Wisconsin Republican Reps. Tom Tiffany and Tony Wied introduced the Oversight for Members And Relatives Act on Friday, known as the OMAR Act, which would prevent candidates’ campaign funds from benefiting their spouses. The legislation would also mandate the disclosure of campaign-related payments made to their immediate family members, according to the bill text obtained exclusively by Blaze News.
‘The American people are sick of it.’
“Public office should never be used to pad a family’s bank account,” Tiffany told Blaze News. “For years, members of both parties have blurred ethical lines by paying their spouses with campaign funds and labeling it ‘campaign work.'”
“The OMAR Act ends this practice and restores integrity to a system that’s been abused for far too long.”
RELATED: Exclusive: SAVE Act hangs in the balance as Republican Study Committee pushes for Senate passage
Exclusive: GOP lawmaker Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
A prime example of these “blurred ethical lines” is none other than Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who reportedly paid nearly $2.8 million to her husband’s political consulting firm during the 2019-2020 election cycle.
According to Fox News, these payments accounted for nearly 70% of her disbursements during her third quarter, exceeding the total amount all congressional candidates combined paid their immediate relatives during the 2012 election cycle.
“Members of Congress are sent to Washington to represent the interests of their constituents — not to line their spouses’ pockets with campaign funds,” Wied told Blaze News.
RELATED: Biden DOJ’s probe into Ilhan Omar’s finances dropped same year her net worth surged
Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
“We’ve seen far too many egregious examples of politicians exploiting loopholes for personal gain, and the American people are sick of it,” Wied added. “I’m proud to stand with Rep. Tiffany to introduce the OMAR Act and put a stop to these shady practices once and for all.”
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88-year-old Democrat brings campaign to a screeching halt
The congressional representative for Washington, D.C., has filed to end her re-election campaign after 18 consecutive terms in the House.
Democrat Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has served as D.C.’s representative since 1991 and is now retiring at 88 years old. Norton’s career was commended by her Democrat allies, but several colleagues have privately expressed concerns about cognitive decline leading up to the suspension of her re-election campaign.
‘I will retire at the end of this term.’
“With fire in my soul and the facts on my side, I’ve raised hell about the injustice of denying 700K taxpaying Americans in DC the same rights given to residents of the states for 33 years,” Norton said in a post on X.
“Now, with pride in our accomplishments, gratitude to DC, and confidence in the next generation, I announced I’ll retire at the end of this term.”
RELATED: ‘Fixing the mess’: Retired Navy SEAL aims to flip Connecticut congressional district red
Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Notably, Norton officially filed paperwork to suspend her campaign on Sunday and didn’t release her official statement until Tuesday.
“The privilege of public service is inseparable from the responsibility to recognize when it’s time to lift up the next generation of leaders,” Norton said in the statement. “For D.C., that time has come. With pride in all we have accomplished together, with the deepest gratitude to the people of D.C., and with great confidence in the next generation, I announced today that I will retire at the end of this term.”
RELATED: Case against man who threw Subway sandwich at federal agent during DC surge goes awry
Photo by Tom Brenner for the Washington Post via Getty Images
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) congratulated Norton on her career, which spanned over three decades, calling her “our Warrior on the Hill.”
“From securing shutdown protection for the city and the creation of DCTAG, to defeating continued attacks on Home Rule and leading historic votes in the House for DC Statehood,” Bowser said in a statement. “Her work embodies the unwavering resolve of a city that refuses to yield in its fight for equal representation.”
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Defeated Democrat tries to revive her political career despite resounding rejection
Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska is setting her sights on higher office after a failed 2024 re-election bid.
Peltola lost to Republican Rep. Nicholas Begich in 2024 despite having the advantage as the incumbent. In the aftermath of this political blunder, Peltola has now launched a senatorial campaign to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska.
‘A defeated career politician turned lobbyist.’
Peltola has branded herself a moderate Democrat working against the D.C. establishment to fight for “fish, family, and freedom.” Peltola has also caught onto the political trend of the times, focusing her campaign message on affordability, housing, and grocery prices.
“D.C. people will be pissed that I’m focusing on their self-dealing and sharing what I’ve seen firsthand,” Peltola said in her launch video.
RELATED: Republicans take back Alaska’s House seat, solidifying the GOP’s slim majority
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
One thing her campaign video omitted was her far-left voting record during her brief stint in the House.
Peltola voted in lock-step with the Democrats against protecting women from transgender athletes in sports, even voting against an amendment to prevent taxpayers from funding sex-altering surgeries. Along with nearly every Democrat in the House, Peltola voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would mandate medical care for babies who survive abortion.
Although her campaign claims to make cost of living a priority, Peltola reportedly “liked the concepts” of the Green New Deal, which would hike up energy prices and cost taxpayers trillions.
RELATED: America First energy policy is paying off at the pump
Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for ELLE
“Mary Peltola represents everything that is broken in Washington: a defeated career politician turned lobbyist who repeatedly voted against American energy independence, secure borders, and the Alaskan way of life,” Senate Leadership Fund Executive Director Alex Latcham said in a statement. “Democrats are desperately trying to revive a far-left politician, but Alaskans know why they fired Mary Peltola in the first place.”
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9 Republicans aid Democrats to advance Obamacare subsidies
Nine Republicans voted to advance the Democrat-led health care bill Wednesday, defying the GOP to extend Obamacare subsidies.
Republican Reps. Nick LaLota of New York, Thomas Kean of New Jersey, Mike Lawler of New York, Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania, David Valadao of California, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Max Miller of Ohio, Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania, and Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida joined Democrats to bring a vote on the health care subsidies that expired at the end of 2025.
‘DEMOCRATS have increased health care costs exponentially.’
Notably Lawler, Fitzpatrick, Bresnahan, and Mackenzie also signed onto House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-N.Y.) discharge petition last month that would have forced a House vote to extend the subsidies.
A final vote on the bill is now expected to take place Thursday.
RELATED: Senate tanks GOP solution to Obamacare subsidy problems
Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Lawler defended his vote aiding Democrats, saying the solution to fix the “broken” health care system is “through a bipartisan approach.”
“Republicans and Democrats can agree that our healthcare system is broken and must be fixed through a bipartisan approach,” Lawler wrote. “Enough of the blame game on both sides. Let’s focus on actually delivering affordable healthcare for Americans.”
RELATED: California Republican suddenly dies at age 65
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has maintained that the Affordable Care Act, especially the COVID-era subsidies, are responsible for skyrocketing premiums.
“Obamacare was created and passed entirely by DEMOCRATS,” Johnson said in a post on X during the 2025 government shutdown. “Since Obamacare took effect, health insurance premiums have SKYROCKETED. The Obamacare COVID-era subsidies were also passed entirely by DEMOCRATS, and set to expire at the end of this year.”
“DEMOCRATS have increased health care costs exponentially, and are now shutting down the government — as they try to cover up THEIR OWN FAILURES and somehow blame Republicans.”
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Lone Democrat’s effort to impeach Trump fails miserably — because of his own party
Dozens of House Democrats turned their back on their colleague who led the latest impeachment effort against President Donald Trump.
Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green’s effort to force a vote to impeach Trump failed miserably on Thursday in a 237-140 vote. Forty-seven Democrats, including all of the Democratic leadership, voted present, while 23 Democrats joined Republicans to table to motion altogether.
‘None of that serious work has been done.’
Although Democrats are typically enthusiastic when given the opportunity to kneecap the administration, both the leadership and the rank-and-file blocked the vote.
“We can’t just impeach someone with no process, without any investigation,” Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California said following the vote.
RELATED: Senate tanks GOP solution to Obamacare subsidy problems
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Democratic leadership echoed this critique, admitting that there was no formal basis to levy the charges against Trump.
“Impeachment is a sacred constitutional vehicle designed to hold a corrupt executive accountable for abuse of power, breaking the law, and violating the public trust,” House Democratic leadership said in a joint statement Thursday. “The effort traditionally requires a comprehensive investigative process, the collection and review of thousands of documents, an exacting scrutiny of the facts, the examination of dozens of key witnesses, congressional hearings, sustained public organizing, and the marshaling of the forces of democracy to build a broad national consensus.”
“None of that serious work has been done, with the Republican majority focused solely on rubber stamping Donald Trump’s extreme agenda,” the statement continues. “Accordingly, we will be voting ‘present’ on today’s motion to table the impeachment resolution as we continue our fight to make life more affordable for everyday Americans.”
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Green originally introduced the articles of impeachment for “Abuse of Presidential Power by Calling for the Execution of Members of Congress,” referencing Trump’s branding of the “Seditious Six” congressional Democrats who urged military servicemen to disobey supposedly “illegal” orders.
The second charge Green cited was the “Abuse of Presidential Power to Intimidate Federal Judges in Violation of the Separation of Powers and Independence of the Judiciary,” referring to Trump’s broad criticism of activist judges.
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Socialism Comes to Congress: 98 House Dems Vote Against Measure To Condemn Far-Left Ideology
Ninety-eight House Democrats on Friday voted against a resolution “denouncing the horrors of socialism” that came just hours before President Donald Trump is set to meet with socialist New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
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Why These Six Democrats Defied Hakeem Jeffries To End Shutdown
Six House Democrats defied Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Wednesday evening to support a Senate-passed deal to end the 43-day government shutdown. Though Jeffries tried to limit the defections, a handful of centrist Democrats, who all represent seats President Donald Trump won in 2024, crossed party lines to support reopening the government. The group cited […]
