The Hegseth Vote Was Jeffries's First Big Test. He Failed.
By not showing discipline on the Pete Hegseth impeachment vote, Democrats seem poised to repeat the mistakes of the past. The post The Hegseth Vote Was Jeffries’s First Big Test. He Failed. appeared first on The Intercept .
On November 12, 2026, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries faced his first major trial as the incoming Democrats took control of the House. The controversy surrounded an impeachment resolution introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a key player in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The resolution, supported by 10 Democrats, failed to secure enough votes to pass, falling short by just two votes with 211 against 204.
The failure to pass the resolution highlighted a lack of discipline within the Democratic caucus, with several members citing traffic or other issues for their absence. Democrats like Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Rep. Pat Ryan of New York were adamant about attending the vote, regardless of traffic or personal circumstances.
However, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez offered a vague explanation, attributing the absences to "someone may have had a health issue." The lack of accountability from Jeffries and his leadership was evident, with Rep. Melanie Stansbury from New Mexico offering a public apology to constituents and Rep. Steven Horsford taking full responsibility in a floor speech.
Despite these attempts at accountability, Jeffries' actions were criticized for lacking the necessary leadership to steer the party through the upcoming tumultuous period.
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- The Hegseth Vote Was Jeffries's First Big Test. He Failed. theintercept.com
