California Dem sworn in as House member after delay

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) was sworn in as the House’s newest member on Tuesday, more than a month after his special election victory.

Sources in Sacramento told The Hill that Gomez was asked by California Democratic leaders to stay in the state assembly longer in case a vote to extend a cap-and-trade program came up.

Gomez cited a family obligation as the reason for his delay to Washington.

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His prolonged absence since winning the June 6 special election led House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to accuse Gomez of engaging in an “unabashed play to politics.” McCarthy further suggested Gomez resign if he didn’t report for duties in Washington soon.

“Mr. Gomez’s absence means his constituents have no representative to help resolve veterans claims and/or appeals with the Department of Veterans Affairs. They have no representative to secure lost or misappropriated social security or Medicare checks. And they have no representative to debate and vote in the People’s House on the critical issues facing our country,” McCarthy wrote in a letter to Gomez, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D).

Gomez made a joking reference to McCarthy’s complaint in his inaugural House floor speech after being sworn in by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

“I want to thank you for the warm welcome,” Gomez told his colleagues.

“I also want to thank the majority leader, Kevin McCarthy, for all the attention he’s given me for the past several weeks. Thank you so much,” Gomez said to laughter, including from McCarthy himself.

Gomez replaces former Rep. Xavier Becerra (D), who left the House this year to become California’s attorney general.

The House still has one remaining vacancy, due to former Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s (R-Utah) resignation at the end of June.

Four seats in Georgia, South Carolina, Montana and Kansas have since been filled by special elections after the previous representatives left to become members of the Trump administration.