Tag: Democrats

Iraq War veteran on Trump’s push for regime change in Venezuela

Phil Klay, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Iraq War and a professor at Fairfield University, joins CBS News with his reaction to the raid that deposed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and President Trump’s calls for regime change.

U.S. military action in Venezuela draws comparisons to Iraq war

U.S. military action in Venezuela draws comparisons to Iraq war – CBS News

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President Trump’s declaration that the U.S. would run Venezuela after arresting its leader has drawn comparisons to the U.S. intervention in Iraq. CBS News national security contributor Samantha Vinograd breaks it all down.

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Questions about the legality of U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro

Questions about the legality of U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro – CBS News

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Questions remain about the legality of the operation that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Former federal prosecutor Scott Fredericksen joins CBS News to discuss.

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U.S. looking to tap Venezuelan oil reserves

President Trump is pushing for U.S. oil companies to tap into Venezuela’s oil reserves following the raid over the weekend that captured Nicolás Maduro. Ed Hirs, energy fellow at the University of Houston, joins CBS News to discuss.

Details on Venezuela’s oil reserves

President Trump is pushing for U.S. oil companies to invest in Venezuela’s oil industry after the capture of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday. Philip Luck, director of the CSIS Economics Program, joins CBS News to discuss.

Oil companies set to meet with Trump administration about Venezuela, sources say

Trump administration officials will meet with U.S.-based oil executives this week about Venezuelan oil reserves, sources say. CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe has more.

Tim Walz Withdraws From 2026 Minnesota Governor’s Race

The Minnesota governor said growing political strain and ongoing investigations made it difficult to balance campaigning with governing ahead of the 2026 election

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced Monday that he is ending his bid for a third term, a move that comes less than 10 months before the 2026 gubernatorial election. The decision was widely anticipated as Minnesota’s political climate has grown increasingly strained amid heightened scrutiny over alleged misuse of federal funds tied to fraudulent day-care programs.

“Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences. So I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work,” said Walz, a Democrat who was also the 2024 nominee for Vice-President. Walz initially announced his intention to seek a third consecutive term last year, however, amid the controversy, his approval ratings have also dropped further.

WATCH: Tim Walz is OUT after billion dollar fraud scandal blows up in his face 🤯 pic.twitter.com/GkqKRXeFuu

— OutKick (@Outkick) January 5, 2026

Federal prosecutors and auditors have raised concerns about fraud in multiple Minnesota programs, and some reporting suggests that improper payments across several programs could be in the billions, however, that estimate is not yet final. As Los Angeles previously reported, the scandal intensified after a viral video by independent journalist Nick Shirley, who claimed fraud at a number of Minnesota daycare centers. In response to the allegations, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced increased requirements and audits in child care funding; plus, federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration, have taken steps to suspend certain program participants while investigations continue.

🔥 Nick Shirley is back on the ground in Minnesota with new Quality Learing Center hoodies. pic.twitter.com/3pBEcWuk8E

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 30, 2025

Walz acknowledged Monday that while he’s leaving the race with “zero sadness and zero regret,” however, he could not fully concentrate on a campaign while also managing the responsibilities of governor. Axios is reporting that Senator Amy Klobuchar, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon are among the officials discussed as possible 2026 candidates for the Democratic Party.

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Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president

Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in Monday as Venezuela’s interim president two days after her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, was captured in Caracas by American special forces. CBS News’ Lilia Luciano has more on the current state of the Venezuelan government.

Lawmakers return to Washington facing Venezuela concerns, shutdown threat

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week confronting the fallout from the stunning capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — and familiar complaints about the Trump administration deciding to bypass Congress on military operations that have led to this moment.

Democratic leaders are demanding the administration immediately brief Congress. Republican leaders indicated over the weekend those plans are being scheduled, but some lawmakers expressed frustration Sunday that the details have been slow to arrive.

President Trump told the nation Saturday that the United States intends to “run” Venezuela and take control over the country’s oil operations now that Maduro has been captured and brought to New York to stand trial in a criminal case centered on narco-terrorism charges.

The administration did not brief Congress ahead of the actions, leaving Democrats and some Republicans expressing public frustration with the decision to sideline Congress.

“Congress should have been informed about the operation earlier and needs to be involved as this situation evolves,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said in a social media post Saturday.

Appearing on the Sunday news shows, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of New York, ticked through a growing list of unknowns — and laid out plans for their party to try and reassert Congress’ authority over acts of war.

“The problem here is that there are so many unanswered questions,” Schumer said on ABC’s “This Week.” “How long do they intend to be there? How many troops do we need after one day? After one week? After one year? How much is it going to cost and what are the boundaries?”

Jeffries told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he was worried about Trump running Venezuela, saying he has “done a terrible job running the United States of America” and should be focused on the job at home.

In the coming days, Jeffries said Democrats will prioritize legislative action to try and put a check on the administration, “to ensure that no further military steps occur absent explicit congressional approval.”

As discussions over Venezuela loom, lawmakers also face major decisions on how to address rising costs of healthcare, prevent another government shutdown and deal with the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files.

Much of the unfinished business reflects a Congress that opted to punt some of its toughest and most politically divisive decisions into the new year, a move that could slow negotiations as lawmakers may be reluctant to give the other side high-profile policy wins in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.

First and foremost, Congress faces the monumental task of averting yet another government shutdown — just two months after the longest shutdown in U.S. history ended. Lawmakers have until Jan. 30 to pass spending bills needed to keep the federal government open. Both chambers are scheduled to be in session for three weeks before the shutdown deadline — with the House slated to be out of session the week immediately before.

Lawmakers were able to resolve key funding disputes late last year, including funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as food stamps, and other government programs. But disagreements over healthcare spending remain a major sticking point in budget negotiations, intensified now that millions of Americans are facing higher healthcare costs after lawmakers allowed Affordable Care Act tax credits to expire on Thursday.

“We can still find a solution to this,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), who has proposed legislation to extend the tax credits for two years. “We need to come up with ways to make people whole. That needs to be a top priority as soon as we get back.”

Despite that urgency, Republican efforts to be the author of broad healthcare reforms have gotten little traction.

Underscoring the political pressure over the issue, four moderate House Republicans late last year defied party leadership and joined House Democrats to force a floor vote on a three-year extension of the subsidies. That vote is expected to take place in the coming weeks. Even if the House effort succeeds, its prospects remain dim in the Senate, where Republicans last month blocked a three-year extension.

Meanwhile, President Trump is proposing giving more money directly to people for their healthcare, rather than to insurance companies. A White House official said the administration is also pursuing reforms to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Trump said last month that he plans to summon a group of healthcare executives to Washington early in the year to pressure them to lower costs.

“I’m going to call in the insurance companies that are making so much money, and they have to make less, a lot less,” Trump said during an Oval Office announcement. “I’m going to see if they get their price down, to put it very bluntly. And I think that is a very big statement.”

There is an expectation that Trump’s increasing hostility to insurance companies will play a role in any Republican healthcare reform proposal. If Congress does not act, the president is expected to leverage the “bully pulpit” to pressure drug and insurance companies to lower healthcare prices for consumers through executive action, said Nick Iarossi, a Trump fundraiser.

“The president is locked in on the affordability message and I believe anything he can accomplish unilaterally without Congress he will do to provide relief to consumers,” Iarossi said.

While lawmakers negotiate government funding and healthcare policy, the continuing Epstein saga is expected to take up significant bandwidth.

Democrats and a few Republicans have been unhappy with the Department of Justice’s decision to heavily redact or withhold documents from a legally mandated release of files related to its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Some are weighing options for holding Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi accountable.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont), who co-sponsored the law that mandated the release with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), said he and Massie will bring contempt charges against Bondi in an attempt to force her to comply with the law.

“The survivors and the public demand transparency and justice,” Khanna said in a statement.

Under a law passed by Congress and signed by Trump, the Justice Department was required to release all Epstein files by Dec. 19, and released about 100,000 pages on that day. In the days that followed, the Justice Department said more than 5.2 million documents have been discovered and need to be reviewed.

“We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible,” the Justice Department said in a social media post on Dec. 24. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told MS NOW last week that pressure to address the matter will come to a head in the new year when lawmakers are back at work.

“When we get back to Congress here in this next week, we’re going to find out really quick if Republicans are serious about actually putting away and taking on pedophiles and some of the worst people and traffickers in modern history, or if they’re going to bend the knee to Donald Trump,” said Garcia, of Long Beach.

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Health coverage at risk as expanded ACA subsidies lapse nationwide

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Millions of Americans are beginning 2026 facing sharply higher health insurance bills after enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired, locking in premium increases that could force some households to drop coverage altogether.

The tax credits, first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and later extended by Democrats, had lowered insurance costs for most people who buy coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Their expiration comes after months of political deadlock in Washington, despite warnings from both parties that the issue could carry significant electoral consequences.

Democrats pushed unsuccessfully to extend the subsidies, even triggering a 43-day government shutdown over the issue. Some moderate Republicans urged action, while President Donald Trump floated — then abandoned — a potential compromise after opposition from conservative allies. With no agreement reached before the deadline, the credits expired at the start of the new year.

A House vote expected later in January could reopen the debate, but there is no guarantee that lawmakers will succeed in restoring the subsidies.

The lapse affects millions of Americans who do not receive health insurance through an employer and are ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare — including self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers, and ranchers. The timing also coincides with a midterm election year in which affordability, particularly healthcare costs, ranks among voters’ top concerns.

“It really bothers me that the middle class has moved from a squeeze to a full suffocation, and they continue just to pile on and leave it up to us,” said Katelin Provost, a 37-year-old single mother whose premiums are set to soar. “I’m incredibly disappointed that there hasn’t been more action.”

Costs Jump Sharply for Many Households

The expanded subsidies, introduced in 2021, allowed some lower-income enrollees to obtain coverage with no monthly premium, capped costs for higher earners at 8.5 percent of income, and broadened eligibility for middle-class households. Democrats later extended the program through the end of 2025.

With those credits gone, the impact is substantial. On average, more than 20 million subsidized Affordable Care Act enrollees are seeing premium increases of 114 percent in 2026, according to an analysis by KFF.

The higher premiums come amid broader increases in U.S. healthcare costs, which are also pushing up deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Some enrollees are absorbing the added burden. Stan Clawson, a 49-year-old freelance filmmaker and adjunct professor in Salt Lake City, said his monthly premium will rise from just under US$350 to nearly $500. Clawson, who lives with paralysis from a spinal cord injury, said the increase is painful but unavoidable.

Others face far steeper hikes. The Provost said her premium is jumping from $85 a month to nearly $750.

Enrollment Fallout Still Uncertain

Health policy experts warn that higher premiums could lead many people — particularly younger and healthier enrollees — to abandon coverage, raising costs further for those who remain insured.

An analysis by the Urban Institute and the Commonwealth Fund last September projected that about 4.8 million Americans could lose coverage in 2026 due to the expiration of subsidies.

However, enrollment effects remain uncertain, as the deadline to select or change plans runs through Jan. 15 in most states.

Provost said she is hoping Congress revives the subsidies early this year. If not, she plans to drop her own coverage and keep insurance only for her four-year-old daughter.

Political Stalemate Continues

In December, the Senate rejected competing partisan proposals — a Democratic plan to extend the subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative centered on health savings accounts. In the House, four centrist Republicans joined Democrats to push for a vote on a three-year extension, though prospects for passage remain unclear.

For many Americans, the impasse feels detached from everyday realities.

“Both Republicans and Democrats have been saying for years, oh, we need to fix it. Then do it,” said Chad Bruns, a 58-year-old Affordable Care Act enrollee in Wisconsin. “They need to get to the root cause, and no political party ever does that.”

1/4: CBS Weekend News

1/4: CBS Weekend News – CBS News

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Nicolás Maduro held in same jail as Sean “Diddy” Combs, Luigi Mangione; Uncertainty in Venezuela as Trump threatens country’s new president.

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What’s at stake after Trump removes Maduro from power

What’s at stake after Trump removes Maduro from power – CBS News

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Tony Dokoupil speaks about President Trump’s decision to remove the dictator Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and all that’s at stake in that call.

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Americans trying to get home from Caribbean after attack on Venezuela prompts airspace closure

U.S. airlines are flying in and out of the Caribbean again Sunday after the surprise U.S. attack on Venezuela prompted the FAA to close the airspace over much of the Caribbean Saturday. Kris Van Cleave reports on how many stranded Americans are still waiting for flights home.

Former Trump national security adviser H.R. McMaster on Venezuela raid that captured Maduro

What happens next in Venezuela after the U.S. capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro with President Trump saying he plans to “run” that country? Retired Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as national security advisor in the first Trump administration, shares his thoughts on that question and more.

Uncertainty in Venezuela as Trump threatens country’s new president

A day after the U.S. raid in Venezuela that captured former President Nicolás Maduro, President Trump has put new Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez on notice. “If she doesn’t do what’s right”, Trump told the Atlantic on Sunday, “she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.” Charlie D’Agata reports.

Nicolás Maduro held in same jail as Sean

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being housed at Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, after he was captured by U.S. forces and flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges. Matt Gutman has more.

U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela, sources say | Special Report

President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, U.S. officials told CBS News, as the administration early Saturday ratcheted up its campaign against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS ON THE HILL: ‘FIGHTING’ IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN ‘FAMILY’

January 2, 2026

These House mavericks defied their own parties more than anyone else in 2025

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Party-line votes still dominate the House of Representatives, but a small group of lawmakers regularly break ranks — defying leadership, reshaping close outcomes and exposing the fault lines inside both parties.

Based on voting data from the 119th Congress, the following list includes the members who voted against the tide the most in 2025, from well-known mavericks to low-profile lawmakers whose dissent surprised even Capitol Hill insiders.

Pictured from left to right: Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Chip Roy, R-Texas. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

10. Eric Burlison, Republican

Although Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., is tied for 10th place with Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., his entry on this list is arguably more surprising. Unlike the other two who have reputations for breaking ranks, the mild-mannered Republican largely focuses on policy and isn’t known for an eagerness to step out of line.

And yet his 46 votes against a majority of Republicans put his dissent rate last year at a top-ten 13.8%.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., participates in a Republican Study Committee news conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 21, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

In 2025, Burlison diverged from the bulk of his party whenever legislation came up that would increase regulation or add burdens to federal workloads. He also voted in favor of many amendments that ultimately went unadopted — many of which were proposed by similarly conservative colleagues.

9. Andy Biggs, Republican

Once chairman of the rebel-filled House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., is known for his strong stances on issues like immigration, the size of government and fiscal accountability. He has voted against the majority of Republicans on 48 votes last year, or 14.2% of the time.

Like many of the Republicans in the top 10, Biggs has voted against measures that have passed with broad bipartisan support, but that lost the backing of more conservative wings of the party.

Rep. Andy Biggs speaks during a news conference in Washington, Dec. 18, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Early in the year, he was one of five lawmakers to vote against the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, a bill that would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a working group and submit a report to Congress on how the agency can streamline its grant information.

8. Chip Roy, Republican

While Chip Roy, R-Texas, isn’t the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, he often acts as its messaging rudder. The group is known for a willingness to toe the party line on issues like the size of government and government spending.

Few members in the group are as influential in their messaging as Roy. He has voted against the majority of his party on 53 occasions, accounting for 15.7% of the votes he took last year.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 20, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

He has consistently voted against bills that would increase the size of government, such as the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act. He was one of only five votes against a bill that provided additional funding to counties containing federal land.

Roy will not pursue re-election to the House in 2026 and will instead run for Texas attorney general.

7. Adam Gray, Democrat

Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif., holds a seat in one of the most competitive districts in the country. In 2024, he won election to Congress by just 187 votes — less than one percentage point more than Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif.

Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif., speaks during a swearing-in ceremony at the Merced County Courthouse Museum in Merced, Calif., Jan. 30, 2025. (Andrew Kuhn/Merced Sun-Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

He has voted against a majority of Democrats on 60 occasions, accounting for 18.4% of his votes cast in the 119th Congress. That led him to vote with Republicans on several largely party-line votes.

On one such recent occasion, he joined with Republicans to reopen the government after a record-breaking 43-day shutdown — one of just six Democrats to cross the aisle to do so.

MODERATE DEMOCRATS PUSH BACK AS PROGRESSIVES MOVE TO OUST JEFFRIES, CLARK OVER TRUMP STRATEGY

6. Vicente Gonzalez, Democrat

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, faced tight election odds in 2024. In that race, he narrowly won in a 51.3%-48.7% victory over Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas.

In the 119th Congress, Gonzalez has broken with Democrats on 65 occasions, accounting for 19.76% of his total. On the final day of the 2025 session alone, Gonzalez voted with Republicans and against the bulk of his party eight times — including in favor of three amendments offered by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, leaves the U.S. Capitol after the last votes of the year in Washington, Dec. 14, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Notably, Gonzalez helped Republicans pass the Laken Riley Act in January, a bill that empowered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to more easily detain illegal immigrants arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.

Just one day later, Gonzalez voted present on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a piece of legislation that would extend protections for children who survive an attempted abortion.

5. Don Davis, Democrat

Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., voted against a majority of his party on 70 occasions in the 119th Congress, amounting to 20.3% of all his votes cast and putting him within the top five members in the House most likely to break with party leadership.

don davis in grey suit speaking at campaign event

Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., speaks at a campaign event for then-Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at East Carolina University, Oct. 13, 2024, in Greenville, N.C. (David Yeazell/Associated Press)

Davis has joined Republicans on several notable votes, including a motion to dismiss an impeachment resolution against President Donald Trump in early December — an effort spearheaded by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas. He also voted alongside Republicans to reopen the government during its record-breaking shutdown and joined a group of 11 Democrats to pass the Stop Illegal Entry Act — a bill that increases criminal penalties for illegal immigrants who commit a felony or reenter the U.S. after being deported.

Like many of the other Democrats on the top 10 list, Davis narrowly won election in 2024. He beat out Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout by just 1.7%.

4. Jared Golden, Democrat

One of the most well-known dissenters in Congress, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, has crossed the aisle on a wide range of issues.

Golden’s 72 votes against a majority of Democrats make up 20.8% of his votes in the 119th Congress. He voted alongside 23 other Democrats to pass a congressional disapproval of Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Ill., and he voted with Republicans to end the government shutdown.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, attends a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, July 17, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Most notably, Golden was the lone Democrat to help Republicans pass a year-long funding bill back in March.

Golden announced he would not pursue re-election in 2026, citing a climate of increasing political polarization. He last won election in 2024 by just 0.6% of the vote.

3. Thomas Massie, Republican

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is perhaps the most visible Republican dissenter in the House. His willingness to break with the party on high-profile issues like government spending, transparency and accountability has garnered him national recognition.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jun. 4, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Most recently, the political maverick spearheaded efforts to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act — a bill that compelled the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all its documentation on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 while incarcerated.

He has voted against a majority of Republicans on 73 occasions or 22.3% of the time in the 119th Congress and was just one of two Republicans to oppose the final passage of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

2. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Democrat

A relatively quiet member who represents a highly competitive district, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., is the second most likely member to buck the party trend on any given vote in the 119th Congress. Last year, she voted 77 times against the majority of Democrats, accounting for 22.5% of her record in the first session.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., walks up the House steps for the final votes in the Capitol before Congress’ October recess in Washington, Sept. 25, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Gluesenkamp Perez narrowly won re-election in 2024 in a 51.7%-47.9% victory over Republican Joe Kent.

Recently, she joined Republicans in a vote to condemn the horrors of socialism, voted to advance an annual defense bill that sets the priorities for the country’s military, was one of 10 Democrats to support the censure of Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, and helped pass the immigration-focused Laken Riley Act.

Most recently, Gluesenkamp Perez drew the ire of many of her fellow Democrats for leading an effort to rebuke fellow Democrat Chuy Garcia, D-Texas, after he effectively prevented a Democrat primary by announcing his retirement at a filing deadline.

HOUSE GOP TENSIONS ERUPT AFTER MODERATE REPUBLICANS’ OBAMACARE ‘BETRAYAL’

1. Henry Cuellar, Democrat

In 2025, no member was more likely to break with his own party than Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas.

His whopping 83 votes against a majority of Democrats put him solidly atop a list of the other rebels, political mavericks and party dissenters in the 119th Congress — accounting for nearly a quarter of every vote he’s cast this year at 24.1%.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, talks with reporters in the Capitol in Washington, Jun. 27, 2019. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

Cuellar faced questions earlier in 2025 about whether he would consider a party switch as his political future hung in the balance. Cuellar faced an indictment from the DOJ for allegedly accepting bribes and acting as a foreign agent.

The Trump administration granted the embattled lawmaker a pardon in early December. Moments after receiving his pardon, Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat.

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Despite his voting record, Cuellar faced the least competitive election of any Democrat on the top 10 list. He last won re-election in 2024 in a 52.8%-47.2% win over Republican challenger Jay Furman, accounting for a 5.5% margin of victory.

Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.