WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia’s ploy to hand-pick his successor for his Illinois seat has sparked a war of words between congressional Democrats. The divisions come at the exact time the party is trying to unify behind issues like health care , affordability and releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files .

On Wednesday night, just as the House was prepared to vote to reopen the government, a fellow Democrat, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, took to the floor and ripped into Garcia, sparking shock and outrage from many of her Democratic colleagues. Both are members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Gluesenkamp Perez, known as MGP on Capitol Hill, offered a House resolution disapproving of Garcia’s actions this fall when he filed paperwork to run for

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