Georgia Democrat John Barrow votes with Republicans on Immigration Overreach Act

U.S. Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga) was one of just three Democrats who voted for the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act on Thursday in the House of Representatives. The Georgia congressman was joined by his Democratic colleagues Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Collin Peterson of Minnesota in voting with 216 Republicans. The measure passed the House 219-197 but it is expected to fail in the U.S. Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) would prevent the president from being able to grant deportation relief to immigrants who are in the country illegally.  This legislative action is in response to President Barack Obama's executive orders, announced Nov. 20, that protect about 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation and grant some of them work permits. 

Barrow, who just lost a reelection in November to Republican Rick Allen, is a conservative Democrat and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition in the House. He was the last white Blue Dog from the Deep South.

Some Georgia pundits speculate that Barrow is not done with his political career which would explain his vote on the Overreach Act.  The centrist Democrat was approached by the Georgia Democratic Party to run for U.S. Senate in 2014 to replace retiring Republican Saxby Chambliss.  Barrow opted against it in 2014 but Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) is up for reelection in 2016. Democrats are almost certain to try to convince Barrow again to be their candidate.