House Democrats left reeling after shock defections

House Democrats were left stunned and pointing fingers Tuesday after a pair of centrist lawmakers unexpectedly helped Republican leadership pass a key procedural vote.

Why it matters: The result underscored how little control House Democratic leadership enjoys over some of its more independent-minded members even at crucial moments.

The two centrists, Reps.

Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), are known to rarely attend party caucus meetings or heed leadership's instructions on how to vote.

"I think it's well established that I don't really do whip calls," Golden told Axios on Tuesday.

Driving the news: The House passed what is known as a "rule" — a procedural package setting out the parameters for how a set of bills will be debated on the House floor — in a 210-208 vote.

Among the legislation included in the rule is a resolution that "condemns and denounces socialism in all its forms," which House Democrats largely oppose due to language touting the SAVE America Act.

Golden told Axios on Monday he would "probably" vote for that measure despite not previously voting for the SAVE America Act.

What they're saying: Golden noted that the rule also included the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, a bill he co-leads to shield lobstermen from federal environmental regulations protecting whales.

He said the issue is one of his "top priorities" and that Democratic leaders "couldn't possibly think that I would vote against my own bill, right?" Golden added that he "had other 'yes' votes lined up, by the way, they just weren't necessary." Gluesenkamp Perez indicated in a statement that she also voted for the procedural measure because it included Golden's bill.

State of play: The result left Democrats astonished, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) telling reporters he "didn't get a heads up" from Golden or Gluesenkamp Perez.

"You'll have to talk to Katherine," he added, referring to House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), whose primary job is to get Democrats in line on votes.

A spokesperson for Clark, asked if the whip got a heads-up from the two rogue Democrats, told Axios: "No she didn't." What they're saying: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who was known for her iron-fisted leadership while in power, expressed surprise that a rule was allowed to fail.

"Voting for the rule is something that I, as Speaker, we never — we didn't even consider that anybody would do that," she told reporters.