LIMITED CROSSOVER POTENTIAL House Democrats are already rejecting Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to hitch stopgap government funding to the SAVE Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections. It’s only going to make the House math on the vote even more difficult for Republicans, who are hoping to vote as soon as next week. Not only are Dems pushing back on the voting measure, they’re not on board with their plan to extend government funding into March in the hopes that a GOP-controlled Congress and a potential President Donald Trump could draw up their own appropriations package. But with some House Republicans already voicing their concerns about the vote, Johnson might well need to pick up some votes from Democrats to get the spending bundle through the House. Here’s who we’re watching as the House gets back next week: The view from the top: Democratic leaders are making it clear pairing the two legislative items and punting the shutdown deadline to March are a nonstarter. They would prefer to kick the deadline into the lame-duck session after the election in hopes of closing out a year-end funding deal. And the SAVE Act was already a poison pill for most Democrats. “A continuing resolution that ends in December — rather than one that lasts a half year—is better for our national security and military readiness, veterans and their families, victims recovering from natural disasters, and all hardworking American taxpayers,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. “Let us hope the majority does not drive us straight to a Republican shutdown.” The pro-SAVE Act Democrats: Five Democrats voted for the SAVE Act as a standalone piece of legislation when it came up in the House in July: Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Don Davis (D-N.C.) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). Mostly from purple districts, they are the kind of lawmakers who typically break with their party on messaging bills, and while they might well take a fresh opportunity to show their independence, their calculus might change if the bill is hitched to a government funding bill — and the potential for a government shutdown. None of the five members responded on the record when we inquired about their position. But one aide familiar with the thinking of the Democrats who voted for the SAVE Act last time told us, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the political dynamics, that it sent a message when Johnson formulated his spending plan without Democrats’ input. “I don’t think any Democrat feels pressure to vote with him, since we all know in the end he’ll need to rely on large numbers of Democratic votes to prevent a shutdown,” the person said. Other Trump-district Democrats: We also checked with three other Trump-district Democrats — Reps. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) — and didn’t hear anything back. Although they might feel election-year pressure on other issues, they don’t have much incentive to break with their party on this vote. Kaptur and Cartwright are both on the Appropriations Committee, and they’re especially averse to embracing any strategy that could potentially result in a shutdown. — Nicholas Wu, with an assist from Daniella Diaz GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Sept. 5, where we’re on the hunt for pawpaws. CLARK HITS THE TRAIL House Minority Whip Katherine Clark is roaming the Midwest to campaign for House Democrats, both current and aspiring. On Wednesday, she did an event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with purple-district Rep. Hillary Scholten, Gwen Walz and Michigan educators. On Thursday, she did a reproductive freedom roundtable with Curtis Hertel, who’s vying to succeed Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), as well as an economic roundtable for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign in Lansing. She also did a reproductive freedom rally in Flint for Kristen McDonald Rivet, who’s running to succeed retiring Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.). On Friday, she’ll campaign at a labor event with Carl Marlinga, who’s running against GOP Rep. John James in the northern Detroit suburbs. Trump narrowly won Michigan’s 10th District in 2020, and James won there by just a half percentage point in 2022. National Democrats largely passed on contesting the race last cycle, but they are making it clear it’s in play this year. And that’s not all: After wrapping up in Michigan, Clark is scheduled to fly to Ohio to do a reproductive health roundtable with Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), who’s also facing a competitive race. — Nicholas Wu THIRD TIME, NO CHARM Rep. Nancy Mace’s relatively new chief of staff is heading out the door. What’s not entirely clear is when exactly she is departing: Two people familiar with the situation in the South Carolina Republican’s office said Lorie Khatod has already stopped working as Mace’s top aide. But Mace spokesperson Gabby Linsky said Khatod “will be with us until she completes her one year of service with our office, something we agreed to long ago.” While a chief of staff’s departure is usually unceremonious, Mace has repeatedly attracted scrutiny for staff turnover. Khatod, her third chief, came in last December after former chief Dan Hanlon left amid a larger staff exodus and later weighed a primary challenge against Mace. During a prayer breakfast organized by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in late July, Mace got emotional praising Khatod as a blessing in her life during a tough year, according to a person in attendance. Khatod did not respond to our request for comment. “We thank her for her hard work and dedication to the Lowcountry during her time with us," Linsky said in her statement. — Olivia Beavers
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