Can one missed vote shift the balance of power in Washington?
On Thursday, Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, nearly allowed a bipartisan resolution to pass that would have limited President Donald Trump’s war powers in Venezuela by initially failing to show up for votes. Arriving 20 minutes late, Hunt cast the deciding vote to block the measure, which failed by a single vote, despite having missed two earlier key votes that day. His absence is part of a broader pattern tied to campaigning for a competitive Republican Senate primary in Texas, straining the GOP’s razor-thin House majority, especially after the recent death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., and resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.
According to Fox News, the resolution, if passed, would have ordered Trump to withdraw U.S. military forces from Venezuela, though the administration maintains there are no troops on the ground there. Hunt’s last-minute arrival followed a day of absences, including a procedural vote on spending legislation to prevent a government shutdown that passed by just one vote.
Critics argue that Hunt’s recurring no-shows are putting unnecessary pressure on an already fragile Republican majority. With the GOP able to lose only two votes on legislation without Democratic support, every absence counts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., noted that Hunt’s absence didn’t make his job “any easier.” That’s an understatement when a single vote can derail critical policy or funding. Leadership shouldn’t have to beg representatives to show up for the basics.
Hunt, when questioned about representing constituents, dodged the issue, saying, "I just want to make sure that y'all are OK when the storm hits, because it's coming, especially here in D.C." A forecasted snowstorm is a weak excuse for skipping votes—duty doesn’t wait for weather reports. His immediate exit after voting only fuels doubts about commitment.
Hunt’s track record shows a troubling trend, missing 87 votes in 2025, or 25.1% of all measures that year. Key absences included votes on condemning antisemitism in June, an anti-deepfake porn bill in April, and procedural steps for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act in May. His longest gap occurred in September 2025, when he missed 22 votes over two days on a water and energy spending bill.
In 2026, Hunt has voted on just two days so far. While he typically skips votes with broad bipartisan support where outcomes aren’t in doubt, Thursday’s near-miss on spending legislation and the Venezuela resolution proves exceptions can bite hard.
Other GOP members, like Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Tom McClintock, R-Calif., also missed votes Thursday, though Stefanik made the Venezuela vote. With such a tight margin after recent losses in the caucus, these gaps test party discipline at a critical time.
Hunt’s office defended his record, stating, "Zero bills, resolutions, or GOP priorities have been delayed or stopped because of Rep. Hunt’s priority to barnstorm Texas to retire John Cornyn." That’s a bold claim when Thursday’s votes hung by a thread—luck, not planning, saved the day. Campaigning to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, shouldn’t trump House responsibilities.
Hunt’s team also noted GOP leadership had said he wasn’t needed in Washington that week, and Johnson personally called him Thursday afternoon for an update. Even so, relying on last-minute dashes to the chamber isn’t a sustainable strategy for governance. Sen. Cornyn fired back on social media, criticizing Hunt for nearly handing Democrats a public relations win on the Venezuela measure. His words underline the frustration within party ranks over avoidable risks to GOP goals.
Hunt’s office emphasized his rush from the campaign trail to deliver the deciding vote against restricting Trump’s authority in the Western Hemisphere. Admirable in the clutch, but it doesn’t erase the pattern of neglect that got him there.
Progressive agendas often exploit GOP disarray to push through policies counter to national interests, like curbing executive power abroad. Hunt’s absences, while not yet fatal, flirt with giving opponents an opening they don’t deserve.
Ultimately, the House GOP needs every vote to hold the line, especially on issues like Venezuela policy. Hunt must weigh Senate ambitions against current duties—America’s priorities can’t wait for Texas primary calendars. Let’s hope leadership finds a way to tighten the ranks before the next close call.