Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez Criticized Pelosi Yet Accepted $31K, Sparking Backlash

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat from Washington, spent her 2022 campaign painting Nancy Pelosi as out of touch and vowing not to support her for House Speaker. But fast-forward to today, and campaign finance reports show Perez has pocketed at least $31,000 from Pelosi and her political action committees since arriving in Congress.

Back in 2022, Perez made it clear: "I will not vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House," she told a local paper, adding that Congress didn't look much like her community. Yet, Pelosi and her affiliated PACs—PAC to the Future and Nancy Pelosi for Congress—have been pretty generous, with Perez and her own PAC collecting that tidy sum. For context, that's more than a third of the median household income in her district. Not exactly chump change for Southwest Washington.

Even as Perez has tried to brand herself as a voice for "normal people" and the working class, Republicans have wasted no time calling out what they see as campaign trail double-speak. "Just like her pal Nancy Pelosi, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez will say and do anything to get elected," a Congressional Leadership Fund spokeswoman sniped. You'd almost think campaign season was a year-round sport.

Despite the criticism, Perez has managed to hang onto her seat, narrowly beating her Republican challenger Joe Kent in both 2022 and 2024. Still, with a razor-thin margin and a reputation as one of the House's most vulnerable Democrats, Republicans have their sights set on her for 2026.

But the attacks aren't just coming from the right. At a recent town hall, Perez faced a chorus of boos and "Vote her out" chants from her own party's base after supporting the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The bill, which requires proof of citizenship to register for federal elections, has been a no-go for most Democrats, but Perez defended her vote as common sense for her district. If you're wondering how to lose friends and alienate constituents, apparently that's a good start.

Perez has also caught flak from fellow Democrats for voting to censure Rep. Al Green of Texas, after his outburst during a Trump address. So, in a party where toeing the line is often the safest bet, Perez is racking up a record of going her own way—though the money from establishment figures like Pelosi sure helps keep the lights on.

As for Perez's response to all this? Her campaign has yet to comment. Sometimes, silence really does speak volumes.