Inside House Democrats' behind-the-scenes food fight

The House's last in-session week before the midterms was beset by furious private finger-pointing between House Democrats following several high-profile rebellions.Why it matters: This dynamic may only worsen if Democrats retake the House, which is set to see an influx of distinctly rebellious and independent lawmakers, particularly on the left.There is even chatter among members contrasting the ability of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to control members with that of his top deputy, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), according to two House Democrats.Said one of the lawmakers, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share details of sensitive private discussions: "People are talking about 'mom and dad'. … Dad is soft.""I think people are asking the question: If this is happening in the minority, are you prepared for what will happen in the majority?" said a third House Democrat."There is no daylight between the three of us," Jeffries said at a Thursday press conference with Clark and Democratic Caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.)."We'll address the situation when we address the situation," he added.A Democratic leadership aide told Axios that everything Jeffries' deputies do is in coordination with him and doesn't represent a break between leaders.Driving the news: Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) on Tuesday provided Republican leadership with the necessary votes to advance a package of GOP bills, including a Russia sanctions bill strongly opposed by Democratic leaders.It was the second time this month the pair of centrists defected from leadership on a procedural vote — even after Clark and Jeffries publicly threatened them with punishment the first time."People thought the first time was a mistake. The second time is defiance," said a fourth House Democrat, telling Axios the two "operate like they are above the caucus."Clark, along with Jeffries, engaged Gluesenkamp Perez in a heated discussion on the House floor during the vote in view of an Axios reporter, which sources said was about her defection.The rebellion came after Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) forced a vote on impeaching President Trump without support from leadership.The vote angered many House Democrats, who complained Green was muddying the party's message on a crucial week.Jeffries and Clark voted "present" along with 44 other Democrats. 147 sided with Green and 18 voted with Republicans to quash the impeachment effort.Leadership's neutrality on that vote drew frustration as well, with a fifth House Democrat telling Axios: "Our constituents don't send us here to be 'present.' They send us here to use our judgment."What they're saying: OurRevolution executive director Joseph Geevarghese said Jeffries "never seems to have this much trouble figuring out what to do when progressives are in his sights.""You cannot demand discipline from progressives while treating defections to the right as an unsolvable procedural dilemma," he told