The House is considering a bipartisan proposal to raise the vote threshold for censuring members from a simple majority to 60% after three censure-related actions were debated in as many days. Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries both signaled openness to changing the rule, arguing censures should be rarer and more bipartisan. Recent events included the censure of Rep. Chuy García and failed efforts against Delegate Stacey Plaskett and Rep. Cory Mills, prompting Reps. Don Beyer and Don Bacon to file legislation to increase the threshold.
Bipartisan Push to Raise Censure Vote Threshold After Week of Controversies
Lawmakers from both parties are advancing a bipartisan effort to make it harder to censure members of the U.S. House of Representatives after three censure-related actions were debated in as many days.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is "very interested in raising the threshold" needed to adopt a censure resolution, expressing support for a proposal that would move the requirement from a simple majority to 60% of the chamber.
“I think censure is an extraordinary remedy, extraordinary cases, it should be used sparingly, as it has been over the history of this institution,”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries offered similar remarks, saying that the censure process "needs to be brought under control" and that he is "open-minded" about raising the vote threshold. He also criticized what he described as extreme Republican uses of the tool.
Once rare, censure has been used more frequently in recent years as a formal public rebuke of a lawmaker. This week’s spate of actions has reinvigorated debate about whether the remedy should require broader, bipartisan backing.
Recent censure actions and complaints
On Tuesday, retiring Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-Ill.) was censured after colleagues alleged he coordinated his retirement to benefit a chosen successor. The measure was introduced by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), and in the final tally 22 Democrats joined Republicans to reprimand García, with 213 Republicans voting in favor.
Also on Tuesday, a bid to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) — reportedly for texting convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 hearing — failed on a 209–214 vote. Three Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure and three Republicans were recorded as "present."
Another potential censure target, Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), has faced multiple controversies, including an allegation of assault and accusations from an ex-girlfriend that he threatened to release explicit images. After a motion to censure Mills failed, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) filed a complaint citing former military colleagues who disputed Mills’ account of events that led to a recommendation for a Bronze Star. That complaint was referred to the House Ethics Committee.
Legislative response
In reaction to the recent activity, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) and Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) introduced legislation to raise the vote threshold for adopting a censure resolution to 60% of the House. Bacon said the change would help ensure censures are more bipartisan and used sparingly.
The proposal aims to curb what supporters view as an overuse of censure and to make sure any formal rebuke reflects broader support rather than a narrow majority.
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