By House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday he was surprised by Rep. Wesley Hunt’s absence from a pivotal House vote, an episode that underscored the governing strain Republicans face with a razor-thin majority.
The Texas Republican, who is campaigning in a crowded three-way primary for the U.S. Senate, was not present as the House advanced a procedural rule by a 214–213 margin. The vote cleared the way for floor consideration of four appropriations bills, including funding for the Department of Homeland Security. While Hunt’s vote ultimately was not required—every Democrat present opposed the rule, forcing GOP leaders to whip their own members—the absence rattled leadership at a moment when every seat counts, according to The Daily Caller.
“I expected him to be here so this was a surprise to me,” Johnson told reporters, adding that he had not spoken with Hunt during the week. Asked whether such absences complicate the party’s agenda, the Speaker was blunt about the math. “We have effectively a one-vote margin, so it doesn’t make the job easier.”
🚨 Rep. Wesley Hunt skipped reporters’ questions on missed voted, opting instead to warn them about the incoming D.C. snowstorm. https://t.co/ICHNsrHRUb pic.twitter.com/CMSiZqkw2a
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 22, 2026
Hunt’s attendance record has become a flashpoint. According to GovTrack, he missed 46 of 49 roll call votes—94 percent—from December 18, 2025, to January 21, 2026, and was absent for three additional votes Thursday morning. Since entering Congress in January 2023, Hunt has missed 327 of 1,641 votes, a 20 percent absence rate—far above the chamber’s lifetime median of 2 percent. He also missed former special counsel Jack Smith’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee the same day.
Other Republicans were absent Thursday, including Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York, Tom McClintock of California, and Andy Harris of Maryland. The contrast was stark: Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas voted days after his wife’s death, and Rep. Jim Baird of Indiana appeared in a neck brace following a January car accident.
A spokesperson for Hunt said the congressman was returning to Washington after Johnson contacted him roughly 30 minutes earlier to warn his vote might be needed later that afternoon. “Congressman Hunt is en route to Washington, D.C. as we speak and will be present to cast his vote and ensure the bill is passed,” the spokesperson said. In a follow-up, the aide added that House leadership had confirmed earlier in the week that Hunt’s presence was not required.
House GOP leaders have repeatedly warned members that attendance is nonnegotiable with such a narrow edge, typically excusing absences only for serious family or health emergencies. Majority Leader Steve Scalise reinforced the message this week: “We have made it very clear to our members, especially with a narrow majority, that you have a job to do and it’s important for everyone to be here who is able to. Every member needs to be here doing their job. There’s a lot of members running statewide who are here voting every day.” He added: “And frankly, if you’re trying to make an appeal to voters that you want some other job the best way to do that is by proving how good of a job you’re doing in your current job.”
Hunt has brushed off criticism, telling a Texas outlet on Monday that voters care more about outcomes than timecards. “Last I checked, the people of Texas don’t necessarily care about your attendance record. They care about whether you’ll pass gun control legislation, whether you’ll codify President Trump’s agenda and whether you’ll secure our southern border.”
Polling has not been kind. Hunt trails his primary rivals—Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton—by double digits in recent averages. Cornyn’s campaign seized on the moment. “Wesley Hunt is refusing to fight for Trump’s agenda by putting his selfish political ambitions before his responsibilities,” spokesman Matt Mackowiak said. “He needs to do his job.”
The episode offered a snapshot of life in a House where margins are measured in inches, not feet—and where a single empty seat can become a headline.
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