Yesterday we looked at a procedural motion in the House that allowed Republicans to slide an ICE-friendly amendment into the new gun control bill. That only happened because more than twenty Democrats from purple or conservative districts voted with the GOP. These included some of the allegedly moderate Democrats like Anthony Brindisi (NY-22). Well, it turns out that Speaker Pelosi was fuming over that maneuver and she had a message for her wayward caucus members after the vote concluded. If you keep this up, the DCCC may not be helping out with your reelection next year. (Free Beacon)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) told moderate Democrats during a closed-door meeting on Thursday to stop siding with Republicans on procedural votes, saying they could become a lower priority for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2020.

Pelosi met with the Democratic Caucus behind closed doors to discuss recent procedural votes that exposed the divisions within the party, according to two individuals who spoke to Politico. Since the Democrats took over the House last month, Republicans have won two motions to recommit, including a Wednesday vote that angered progressives, Politico reported.

During Thursday’s meeting, Pelosi warned Democrats who voted with Republicans on the latest motion to recommit, saying, “This is not a day at the beach. This is the Congress of the United States.”

Pelosi was later quoted as saying, “We are either a team or we’re not, and we have to make that decision.” She was backed up by new Democratic “superstar” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who offered to put the word out that Democrats voting with the GOP on anything at all should be up for a primary challenge in 2020.

What we’re witnessing here is yet another result of the nationalization of the two political parties, though it’s been going on for a while now. Both Democrats and Republicans hold seats in districts and states with wildly varying priorities and political alignments. This is true in the Senate to a certain degree, but far more so in the House. These various members are not always on the same page, nor were they ever intended to be by the founders.

But when party leadership on either side makes it all about “the team” and defeating the other party at every turn, no matter the cost, that’s when you start losing seats. And it’s those marginal seats in purple districts that determine which party holds the majority every single time. Those are also the same seats that require the most financial and infrastructure support from the DCCC and the NRCC. If Pelosi can actually pressure the DCCC to cut off funding to her members who are doing what they must to survive back home, she’s going to be setting herself up for a very short term as Speaker.