Democratic Rep. Marilyn Strickland Apologizes After Missing Hegseth Impeachment Vote

“We have one job that is to show up and vote,” U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland said after missing a key roll call by a single minute on Wednesday due to traffic.

The Washington state Democratic congresswoman arrived one minute late for a vote that could have set in motion an impeachment attempt against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Strickland represents the 10th Congressional District that includes parts of Pierce and Thurston counties, as well as Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Motorcade delays and heavy congestion caused her to miss the critical legislative moment.

“Motorcade. Traffic jam, whatever happened, I should have been there earlier,” Strickland told a Seattle television reporter, adding that she takes full responsibility and vows it will not happen again.

In a 211-204 vote split mostly along party lines, the House decided to send the impeachment measures against Hegseth to a committee, which in practice halts the push to oust him until the current Congress concludes in January. Strickland was one of 11 Democrats—dubbed the Hegseth 11 by detractors—who were absent during the roll call, alongside seven Republicans who also missed the vote.

Constituents angered by the absence are mobilizing online and planning in-person actions near Strickland’s district office. A social media posting on Reddit indicates that the Olympia Visible Brigade, a progressive activist group, plans to demonstrate on an overpass near the Lacey office to demand answers.

Protesters want to know why she missed the vote and question her stance on the upcoming House speaker election, according to the post. Members of the group oppose House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries getting the top job.

“We would like her to know that she’s on notice. We are paying attention, and that we expect her to do the bare minimum of showing up on time to vote,” the post reads.

A spokesman for Strickland said that the majority of constituents contacting her office this week are seeking assistance on their interactions with federal agencies rather than focusing on the missed vote.

Before the House proceedings took place that day, Hegseth dismissed the efforts to oust him as ridiculous, denied the accusations of impeachable misconduct in his role as the military’s senior civilian official, and characterized the push as hostile toward American service members.

Outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie brought forward the impeachment resolutions, claiming that the Defense chief conducted an illegal conflict with Iran, sanctioned unlawful executions, and disregarded regulations designed to limit civilian deaths.

Hegseth’s opponents could try again during the new Congress starting in January, when Democrats hold a large majority in the House. Strickland stated to the Standard that she looks forward to next year when Democrats control both chambers.

“So we can impeach Hegseth, and prevent Trump from appointing a replacement who is just as unqualified or worse,” Strickland said in her statement.

“Pete Hegseth is incompetent and needs to go. And if he stays, we aren’t able to impeach him and convict him of impeachment, he will not have a very good time as the secretary of defense,” U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen said on Friday.