The House still votes largely along party lines, but a handful of members repeatedly step off the script and change close outcomes, forcing leadership to account for real dissent. This article profiles the lawmakers who broke most often in the 119th Congress, why they did it, and how their votes shaped key fights on spending, immigration, transparency, and accountability.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS ON THE HILL: ‘FIGHTING’ IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN ‘FAMILY’ Some Republicans who vote against their party do it from principle rather than attention-seeking. These members often push back on bills they view as expanding government or eroding constitutional checks, and their dissent matters in tight margins.
Eric Burlison, R-Mo., is easier to miss than headline-seeking rebels yet still landed in the top ten for crossing his party. He cast 46 votes against a majority of Republicans, roughly 13.8% of his roll call record, usually on measures that increased regulations or added federal burdens. Burlison’s approach is quietly policy driven, not performative, and that steadiness makes his breaks noteworthy.
Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., has long been a hardline voice on immigration and fiscal restraint, and his voting record reflects that consistency. He registered 48 votes against the GOP majority, about 14.2% of his floor work, often opposing bipartisan compromises that expanded federal reach. Biggs’ stance serves as a reminder that the conservative wing still moves the party’s conversation.
Chip Roy, R-Texas, is a messaging force for limited government and fiscal discipline and he uses the floor to underline those principles. Roy split from his party 53 times, roughly 15.7% of his votes, opposing measures he judged as enlarging government or loosening accountability. He is leaving the House to run for Texas attorney general, but his record will follow him into statewide politics.
Adam Gray, D-Calif., sits in an ultra-competitive district and votes that way, frequently siding with Republicans on big-ticket items. He went against a majority of Democrats 60 times, about 18.4% of his votes, including moments when reopening government mattered more than party posture. Gray’s choices reflect a lawmaker conscious of swing-district realities.
MODERATE DEMOCRATS PUSH BACK AS PROGRESSIVES MOVE TO OUST JEFFRIES, CLARK OVER TRUMP STRATEGY Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, also kept a split record in 2025, crossing the aisle multiple times under electoral pressure. He broke with his party 65 times, near 19.8% of his votes, supporting measures like the Laken Riley Act while voting present on sensitive abortion-related legislation. Gonzalez’s pattern shows how border and public-safety concerns can override party orthodoxy in close districts.
Don Davis, D-N.C., was another Democrat who sided with conservatives when he thought it necessary, recording 70 votes against his party or roughly 20.3% of his floor activity. He teamed with Republicans to reopen the government and to back tougher penalties for certain illegal entry offenses, signaling a focus on law and order. Davis narrowly retained his seat, and that electoral pressure is plainly visible in his voting choices.
Jared Golden, D-Maine, is a well-known centrist whose willingness to cross party lines made him stand out again in the 119th Congress. Golden cast 72 votes against Democrats, about 20.8% of his total, and was the lone Democrat to support a year-long funding bill in March. His decisions reveal how polarization drives moderates to pick governance over party purity.
Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is a public-facing dissenter who pushes transparency and fiscal oversight, not popularity. He logged 73 votes against the GOP majority, roughly 22.3% of his roll calls, and led the charge for the Epstein Files Transparency Act to pry open DOJ documents. Massie’s brand of rebellion is steeped in accountability and skepticism of unchecked power.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., represents a competitive district and voted against the Democratic majority 77 times, about 22.5% of her votes, consistently siding with GOP positions on issues like condemning socialism and advancing defense priorities. Her willingness to censure a fellow Democrat and to back immigration measures shows she prioritizes district sentiment over caucus unity. That posture keeps her politically viable in a tight district.
HOUSE GOP TENSIONS ERUPT AFTER MODERATE REPUBLICANS’ OBAMACARE ‘BETRAYAL’ Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, broke with his party more than anyone in 2025, recording 83 votes against Democrats, nearly a quarter of his votes at 24.1%. His situation became uniquely political after legal trouble led to a pardon and renewed scrutiny over his future, yet his voting pattern remained consistently centrist. Cuellar’s behavior underscores how personal politics, legal developments, and regional dynamics combine to produce persistent party defections.
