Democratic Civil War: 75 Dems Break Ranks on Antisemitism Vote

Paul Riverbank, 6/11/2025House Democrats split over antisemitism resolution, revealing deep party divisions on Israel stance.

Let me paint the scene: 280 representatives voted yes, while 113 said no. But here's what really caught my eye – 75 Democrats broke ranks with their party. I've spent countless hours in those galleries, and believe me, when you see that kind of split, there's always more to the story.

Rep. Gabe Evans, a Colorado Republican, probably didn't expect his resolution to become such a lightning rod. The original draft included language about "Free Palestine" being antisemitic – that got scrapped pretty quick. Smart move, honestly. I remember similar language causing an uproar back in 2019.

Now, Hakeem Jeffries didn't pull any punches. "Who is this guy?" he asked about Evans. Called the whole thing "an embarrassment." But you know what? That kind of dismissive rhetoric rarely plays well outside the Beltway.

Here's where it gets interesting – and I've seen this playbook before. Republicans tucked in praise for ICE, knowing it would drive a wedge between progressive and moderate Democrats. The Boulder suspect had overstayed his visa, so they had their hook. Classic political maneuvering, though it left some of my sources on the Hill shaking their heads.

The timing couldn't be ignored – not with what happened in Boulder, where someone allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at people supporting Hamas hostages. Fifteen people hurt, plus a dog. Add in that shooting at the Israeli Embassy in DC and the attempted arson at Governor Shapiro's house... well, the pressure was on.

But wait – there's a twist. Later that same day, the House passed another resolution condemning antisemitism. This one? Unanimous. 400-0. No controversy, no drama. Just Representatives Van Drew and Neguse leading a straightforward condemnation of hate crimes.

Look, I've been covering Congress long enough to know what this means for Democratic leadership. They're trying to thread an increasingly narrow needle – backing Israel, fighting antisemitism, while keeping their progressive wing on board. Trust me, that tension isn't going anywhere, especially not with election season looming.

Some nights, sitting in my office overlooking the Capitol, I wonder if we're watching the Democratic coalition slowly unravel. But then again, I've written that story before – and somehow, they usually manage to pull it together when it counts. We'll see if they can do it again this time.

The House chamber witnessed a revealing moment in Democratic Party politics Monday, and I couldn't help but think back to similar rifts I've covered over the decades. What began as a straightforward condemnation of antisemitism in Boulder morphed into something far more complicated – and telling.Let me paint the scene: 280 representatives voted yes, while 113 said no. But here's what really caught my eye – 75 Democrats broke ranks with their party. I've spent countless hours in those galleries, and believe me, when you see that kind of split, there's always more to the story.Rep. Gabe Evans, a Colorado Republican, probably didn't expect his resolution to become such a lightning rod. The original draft included language about "Free Palestine" being antisemitic – that got scrapped pretty quick. Smart move, honestly. I remember similar language causing an uproar back in 2019.Now, Hakeem Jeffries didn't pull any punches. "Who is this guy?" he asked about Evans. Called the whole thing "an embarrassment." But you know what? That kind of dismissive rhetoric rarely plays well outside the Beltway.Here's where it gets interesting – and I've seen this playbook before. Republicans tucked in praise for ICE, knowing it would drive a wedge between progressive and moderate Democrats. The Boulder suspect had overstayed his visa, so they had their hook. Classic political maneuvering, though it left some of my sources on the Hill shaking their heads.The timing couldn't be ignored – not with what happened in Boulder, where someone allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at people supporting Hamas hostages. Fifteen people hurt, plus a dog. Add in that shooting at the Israeli Embassy in DC and the attempted arson at Governor Shapiro's house... well, the pressure was on.But wait – there's a twist. Later that same day, the House passed another resolution condemning antisemitism. This one? Unanimous. 400-0. No controversy, no drama. Just Representatives Van Drew and Neguse leading a straightforward condemnation of hate crimes.Look, I've been covering Congress long enough to know what this means for Democratic leadership. They're trying to thread an increasingly narrow needle – backing Israel, fighting antisemitism, while keeping their progressive wing on board. Trust me, that tension isn't going anywhere, especially not with election season looming.Some nights, sitting in my office overlooking the Capitol, I wonder if we're watching the Democratic coalition slowly unravel. But then again, I've written that story before – and somehow, they usually manage to pull it together when it counts. We'll see if they can do it again this time.