After 55 days of not showing up to work, Maxine Waters has officially been labeled a “disassociated member” of the U.S. House of Representatives. The designation, which almost never comes up, applies to members who go an extended period without voting, attending hearings, or carrying out their duties.
Waters crossed that line this week, according to House officials, and the consequences could be serious. Under Article 5, Section 7, Speaker Mike Johnson can now call for her removal with a simple majority vote. With Republicans in control of the chamber, that vote would likely pass.
“She’s clearly not able to do the job,” one Republican aide said. “Seat sits empty till November.”
Waters, 88, has served in Congress since 1991. Over the years, she became one of the best-known Democrats in the country, famous for her fiery speeches and her running battles with Donald Trump. Her supporters called her “Auntie Maxine” and treated her as a hero of the resistance.
That makes her long absence all the more striking. Colleagues say they haven’t seen her on Capitol Hill in nearly two months. She hasn’t voted on any bills, hasn’t shown up to the Financial Services Committee, and hasn’t made a public appearance in her district either.
Democrats have spent most of that time brushing off questions. When asked about her missed votes, party leaders gave vague answers about personal matters and asked reporters to respect her privacy. Some staffers privately admitted they had no idea when, or whether, she would return.
“Everybody knew,” one Democratic aide said. “Nobody wanted to be the one to say it.” Republicans now say the party’s silence has gone on long enough.
“The people of her district deserve a representative who shows up,” said one GOP member. “Right now they have nobody. And Democrats were fine with that as long as it didn’t make headlines.”
If Johnson moves forward, the seat would remain vacant until November, when voters would choose a new representative. Some Republicans have urged him to act quickly. Others have suggested giving Waters’ office one last chance to explain her absence.
Her allies are furious. Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus called the label disrespectful to a woman who has served her community for decades. Activists in Los Angeles accused Republicans of exploiting her absence for political gain.
But even some of her longtime supporters are starting to ask questions. A community leader in South Los Angeles said people in the district have been wondering for weeks why nobody would tell them what was going on.
“We love Maxine,” she said. “But we need someone in that chair.” For now, Waters’ office has not commented, and the chair remains empty. Dems covered for her for months. Can’t hide it anymore.
