A failed House vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is bad news for Democratic voters who feel their party keeps talking tough and then failing to act.

Eleven House Democrats skipped the vote, letting it fail by seven votes. Several blamed traffic after attending a reception for a women's political group whose fundraising arm has taken millions from an AIPAC-linked super PAC. Two of the absent members actually sit on that group's board.

Nancy Pelosi missed the vote too, saying she was honoring veterans at a local event, even though she had previously called Hegseth unfit to lead the military. All eleven absent Democrats have taken campaign money tied to the Israel lobby over the years.

House Democratic leaders are already hinting the impeachment push may get buried in committee talk rather than revived if Democrats retake the majority next term.

Outlook: Expect renewed pressure and possible primary challenges against these Democrats, but a real impeachment vote on Hegseth likely waits until after the next election, if it happens at all.