Two moderate House Democrats crossed party lines Tuesday to help Speaker Johnson overcome an internal Republican revolt and advance a key procedural measure.

Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington voted in favor of a Republican-backed rule that set the terms for floor consideration of several GOP priorities. The measure passed 210-208 after five Republicans joined Democrats in opposition.

Golden, who is retiring at the end of the term, stated that his vote cleared the way for consideration of the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026, legislation he cosponsored to shield Maine lobstermen from new federal regulations. The bill has White House backing.

Gluesenkamp Perez, a member of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition running in a competitive district, did not issue a detailed public explanation but has a record of occasional bipartisan cooperation.

The vote drew sharp criticism from Democratic leaders. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the two members blindsided the caucus by failing to provide advance notice.

“The two Democrats who voted for the rule did not give any member of House Democratic leadership a heads-up, and as a result, blindsided the entire caucus and created a significant breach of trust,” Jeffries said in an interview with reporters.

Typically, members of the minority party stick together to oppose these kinds of procedural votes, which the majority party needs to bring bills to the floor.

Multiple conservatives were blocking their party leaders’ plans for the floor this week in an attempt to protest a separate move to pass a stopgap funding bill that’s detested by the far right.

Republicans like Rep. Chip Roy refused to support a Senate-passed funding bill that didn’t allow House conservatives to insert their own priorities, like provisions against what they call “mass surveillance” or more money for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.

Such cross-party support on procedural rules remains rare. Rules votes typically divide along party lines, as they determine which bills reach the floor. Democrats have previously supplied the bulk of votes for Johnson-backed funding measures to avert government shutdowns, including a 2023 stopgap bill that passed with 209 Democratic votes.

In April 2024, more Democrats than Republicans backed a procedural vote advancing a foreign aid package. Those instances illustrate occasional bipartisan cooperation amid narrow Republican majorities.

Tuesday’s outcome allowed the House to proceed with votes on Republican messaging measures, including a resolution condemning socialism.

Johnson described the result as a sign that Republicans are prepared to conduct business.