Typically, congressional delegations can be divided into two camps, Republicans and Democrats. Some smaller states — such as Massachusetts or Rhode Island — are only represented by one party. But more populous states like Texas and Illinois typically bring both Republicans and Democrats to the House, even if the state as a whole is decidedly blue or red. The California House delegation, for example, is composed of 38 Democrats and 15 Republicans.
Partisan congressional delegations typically stick together, as they share not only a party and general political ideology, but the interests of the state they represent. But as the chasm between moderates and conservatives grows, California’s Republican delegation is slowly becoming more of two delegations.
Consider how different California Republicans handled (and are handling) two of the most politically charged issues in our country today.
First, consider the government shutdown. All of California’s Republicans voted to defund, and then to delay, Obamacare — prompting the shutdown to occur. But as the days went on, and it became clear that Republicans were taking a political hit for closing the government over Obamacare, some Republicans began to openly criticize their party.
Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare, a moderate, compared his fellow Republicans to terrorists, calling them “lemmings with suicide vests”:
“They have to be more than just a lemming. Because jumping to your death is not enough. …
“You have this group saying somehow if you’re not with them, you’re with Obamcare. If you’re not with their plan — exactly what they want to do, you’re with Obamcare. It’s getting a little old.”
The real test came on Oct. 16, when the House voted on a clean continuing resolution, which reopened the government without any changes to Obamacare. The delegation split almost perfectly in half.
Eight Republicans voted in favor of reopening the government, Reps: Ken Calvert, Paul Cook, Darrell Issa, Kevin McCarthy, Buck McKeon, Gary Miller, David Valadao and—not surprisingly—Devin Nunes.
Seven Republicans voted against reopening the government, Reps: John Campbell, Jeff Denham, Duncan Hunter, Doug LaMalfa, Tom McClintock, Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce.
