Frederica Wilson, an 83-year-old House Democrat from Florida, has missed 43 consecutive House votes without any formal public explanation from her office, according to congressional reporter Jamie Dupree.
The longtime congresswoman has not cast a vote in the House of Representatives since April 17, and reportedly missed all 10 votes held Wednesday alone.
Questions intensified after Dupree noted that recent photos posted to Wilson’s X account appeared to come from an event originally held last October rather than a current public appearance.
Rep. Frederica Wilson D-FL missed all 10 votes on Wednesday in the House. Wilson has now missed 43 straight votes – she last voted on April 17. Wilson's X account this week sent out photos of a Service Academy day – but pictures from the same event were posted last October
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree.bsky.social) May 13, 2026 at 7:49 PM
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Mediaite’s Michael Luciano continues:
“I was proud to host a Service Academy Day at FIU, bringing together representatives to share guidance with the next generation,” the congresswoman’s post stated, suggesting that the event had taken place that day or at least recently, and not eight months ago.
Wilson is not the only House member who has been missing lots of votes. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has been MIA since March. Kean’s office later issued a statement, saying the congressman is dealing with an unspecified “personal medical issue.” The congressman has yet to return to the House.
Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, where so far, four Democratic members have died this term.
Reps. David Scott (GA), Sylvester Turner (D-TX), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) all died during the 119th Congress. Scott was 80, while the other three lawmakers were in their 70s.
The situation has reignited debate over aging lawmakers and transparency in Congress. Online reactions across social media reflected frustration over elderly lawmakers remaining in office amid repeated health and attendance concerns.
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Where else in this country can you miss that many days and still have a job?
Maybe those fogies need to switch to a DieHard.
This has to be more than a “just get better” note. This is a serious situation as Congress is full of people way past retirement age. They have been entrusted by voters to serve the interests of those voters, and just being absent for all kinds of votes is not doing the job. It’s way past time that we establish age and term limits for everyone in public office. If Congress won’t do this, let’s please give full support to a Constitutional Convention to be able to determine this, among other things. When you agree to serve, if you are unable to, for certain reasons, then it is time to resign. We have too many people who are collecting pay and all sorts of other benefits, who will stay in Congress until their dying day strictly for the money. No wonder no one trusts the Congress any longer.