Pete Hegseth Impeachment Vote: Thomas Massie and 2026 Election Results

The US House of Representatives blocked an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on November 10, 2026, voting 211-204 to refer an impeachment resolution introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie to the House Judiciary Committee. The resolution contained eight articles accusing Hegseth of constitutional and legal violations related to the Iran war and other military operations. Massie was the only Republican to oppose referring the measure. The vote came one week after the midterm elections, in which Massie's replacement, Ed Gallrein, won Kentucky's 4th Congressional District. Meanwhile, Mississippi's closely contested Senate race between Democrat Scott Colom and Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith remained uncalled as election officials continued counting ballots.

What Happened in Pete Hegseth's Impeachment Vote?

On November 10, 2026, the House voted on a procedural motion concerning H.Res. 1655, a resolution introduced by Thomas Massie seeking to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Rather than voting directly on whether Hegseth should be impeached, lawmakers voted to refer the resolution to the House Judiciary Committee.

The motion passed by a margin of 211-204, with 18 members not voting.

The procedural decision effectively stopped the impeachment effort from advancing to a direct House vote during the current congressional session.

Hegseth was not impeached, and the Senate did not conduct an impeachment trial.

How Did Republicans and Democrats Vote?

The House vote largely followed party lines.

Massie was the only Republican who opposed sending the resolution to committee.

All 203 Democrats who participated voted against the referral, effectively supporting continued consideration of the impeachment measure.

Independent Representative Kevin Kiley voted in favor of referral.

The result demonstrated that most Republicans preferred not to advance the impeachment process, despite reported disagreements within the party over Hegseth's conduct.

Why Did Thomas Massie Seek to Impeach Pete Hegseth?

Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment alleging that Hegseth had violated constitutional responsibilities and federal laws governing military operations.

The 34-page resolution addressed several issues.

Iran War and Congressional Authorization

Massie argued that continued US military operations against Iran violated the War Powers Resolution because Congress had not authorized the conflict.

He maintained that the administration had continued hostilities beyond the statutory limits applicable in the absence of congressional authorization.

The administration rejected this interpretation, defending the military campaign as an exercise of presidential authority.

Military Operations in Other Countries

The resolution also challenged aspects of US military actions involving Venezuela, Yemen and operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Massie alleged that some operations exceeded lawful military authority or violated restrictions imposed by Congress.

These were allegations presented in the impeachment resolution, not criminal findings against Hegseth.

Civilian Casualties and Military Oversight

Another article concerned the protection of civilians during military operations.

Massie accused Hegseth of weakening Pentagon procedures intended to minimize civilian harm.

He cited civilian casualties during the Iran conflict as part of his argument.

The Pentagon and administration defended their military operations and rejected the claim that policy disagreements constituted impeachable misconduct.

Alleged Retaliation Against Critics

The resolution further accused Hegseth of using his authority improperly against critics of the administration.

Massie argued that the alleged actions raised constitutional concerns involving freedom of expression and government accountability.

The House did not reach a final determination on the merits of those allegations.

How Did the Trump Administration Respond?

President Donald Trump's administration strongly opposed the impeachment resolution.

In a November 10 statement of administration policy, the White House argued that the resolution was politically motivated and would interfere with national security decisions.

The administration maintained that military operations directed by the president were lawful and necessary for US security interests.

It urged lawmakers to support the motion referring the resolution to committee.

Vice President JD Vance also criticized the impeachment effort, arguing that disagreements over national security policy did not automatically constitute impeachable offenses.

Massie maintained that congressional war powers and constitutional limits remained applicable to the defense secretary.

Did Pete Hegseth Get Impeached?

No. Pete Hegseth was not impeached in the November 10, 2026, House proceedings.

The vote concerned whether his impeachment resolution should be referred to committee rather than considered directly by the full House.

Because the referral motion passed, the House did not approve articles of impeachment against him.

Under the US Constitution, impeachment requires approval by a majority of the House. Removal from office would then require conviction by a two-thirds majority of senators present at a subsequent trial.

Neither step occurred in this case.

Thomas Massie's 2026 Election Results

Thomas Massie lost the Republican primary for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District on May 19, 2026.

His challenger, Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL supported by President Trump, won the nomination.

The primary followed repeated disagreements between Massie and the Trump administration over spending, foreign policy and congressional oversight.

Gallrein subsequently won the November 3 general election, defeating Democrat Melissa Strange and Libertarian Jeremy Todd.

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election Results

Gallrein's victory means he is scheduled to succeed Massie when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.

Massie continues serving the remainder of his existing term through January 2027, which allowed him to introduce the impeachment resolution after his primary defeat.

Mississippi Senate Election Results: Scott Colom vs. Cindy Hyde-Smith

Mississippi's 2026 US Senate election remained unresolved on November 11, more than a week after Election Day.

Democratic challenger Scott Colom held a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith as local election officials continued processing absentee and affidavit ballots.

According to Mississippi Today, the Associated Press count late on November 10 showed Colom leading by approximately 2,604 votes, with about 97% of the expected vote counted.

These figures represent incomplete results, not a certified election outcome.

The Associated Press had not declared a winner as of November 11.

Why Has Mississippi's Senate Race Not Been Called?

The exceptionally narrow margin means outstanding ballots could still affect the final result.

Mississippi election officials continued reviewing absentee ballots and affidavit ballots submitted by voters whose eligibility or identification required further verification.

Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day were permitted to arrive through November 10.

County election commissions were required to submit certified results by November 13.

Hinds County, a significant source of Democratic votes, remained important to the outstanding count.

Mississippi does not provide an automatic recount procedure for this election. Legal challenges may be pursued through the courts if supported by applicable grounds.

Neither campaign's claims of a potential victory constitute a final election result.

Why Does the Mississippi Senate Race Matter?

The Mississippi contest is one of the remaining closely watched races from the November 3 midterm elections.

Democrats have already secured control of the Senate, according to Associated Press reporting.

Therefore, the Mississippi result will affect the size of their majority rather than determine which party controls the chamber.

A Colom victory would also mark a significant historical development because Mississippi has not elected a Democratic US senator since 1982.

However, that outcome cannot be treated as confirmed until the remaining ballots establish a winner.

How Are the Hegseth Vote and Midterm Elections Connected?

The November 10 impeachment vote took place during the final months of the 119th Congress, after the midterm elections but before newly elected lawmakers were scheduled to assume office.

Republicans still controlled the House at the time of the vote, although Democrats had secured control of the incoming chamber.

This distinction helps explain why Massie could bring the measure forward even though he had lost his primary and why the existing House leadership could still refer it to committee.

The vote reflected the membership of the outgoing Congress, not the composition of the House that will convene in January 2027.

Key Political Events in 2026

Latest Political Developments as of November 11, 2026

The impeachment effort against Pete Hegseth has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, effectively preventing a direct impeachment vote in the current session.

Thomas Massie remains a sitting Republican representative until his term expires, despite losing his party's 2026 primary.

Ed Gallrein has won the election to succeed him in Kentucky's 4th District.

Meanwhile, Mississippi's Senate race remains uncalled, with Scott Colom narrowly ahead of Cindy Hyde-Smith in incomplete results.

The outstanding ballots and county certifications will determine the final outcome.

Conclusion

The House's November 10, 2026, vote effectively halted Thomas Massie's attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Lawmakers voted 211-204 to refer the eight-article resolution to committee rather than approve impeachment charges.

The vote occurred after a midterm election in which Massie's Republican primary challenger, Ed Gallrein, won the Kentucky congressional seat.

At the same time, Mississippi's closely contested Senate election remained unresolved, with Democrat Scott Colom holding a narrow lead over incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith.

These developments illustrate the distinction between pending impeachment allegations, procedural congressional votes, confirmed election results and races that remain subject to ballot counting.