Hegseth impeachment fails in House after 11 Democrats miss vote

The House voted to end the impeachment inquiry into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday. Eleven Democrats were absent from the chamber when the vote took place. Those absences included former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had flown to San Francisco for a veterans' event. The procedural math suggests the effort would have advanced if those 11 members had cast their votes. No Republican besides Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky supported moving the process forward. Massie led the effort to hold Hegseth accountable for the Iran war.

The failure marks the first major test for the new Democratic majority. Hakeem Jeffries, who will lead the House, now faces a large caucus with the largest majority since the early 1990s. His leadership will be measured against the discipline of former Speaker Pelosi. Pelosi was known for counting votes carefully and avoiding efforts that lacked sufficient support. This initial stumble puts pressure on Jeffries to establish order and clarity in the new era.

Voters signaled different priorities in the recent election. A Reuters/Ipsos poll taken after the election found that 80% of people believe Democrats should focus on the cost of living in the first 100 days. Three-quarters of respondents said lowering health care costs was a priority. Seven in ten wanted lower gas prices. Six in ten said ending the Iran war and eliminating tariffs should be top goals.

Fewer voters prioritized accountability measures. Only 40% of all respondents said investigating the Trump administration should be a priority in the early days. That number rises to 71% among Democrats but falls to 36% among independents. Almost two-thirds of all respondents expressed concern that Democrats would spend too much time on investigations. That concern was shared by half of Democrats themselves.

The specific prospect of impeaching President Trump drew even less support. Only 33% of all respondents said it would be good for the country. Among Democrats, 63% supported that idea. Only 30% of independents agreed. More than half of all respondents said Democrats should make efforts to work with the Trump administration. That sentiment was held by only 40% of Democrats.

Republicans seized on the procedural failure to rally around Hegseth. The White House and GOP members on Capitol Hill defended the Secretary. Even those with reservations about the Iran war found it easier to unite against the opposition than to debate internal strategy. The moment gave Republicans a chance to shift the conversation away from health care and gas prices.

Jeffries acknowledged the need to balance these competing demands. He told PBS NewsHour this week that the party would decide on further impeachments later. He said, We will cross that bridge when we get to it. He reaffirmed that affordability is the top priority. He stated, We are committed to driving down the high cost of living in every area. That includes housing, health care, groceries, gas, and caregiving.

The poll data shows Democrats hold leads on policy plans. They lead by 42% to 23% on health care. They lead by 40% to 25% on the cost of living. They lead by 37% to 30% on the economy. However, only 47% of all respondents are convinced that Democrats are focused on the issues that matter to them. Only 44% believe the party puts the American people's interests above its own.