Rep. Justin Amash is one of the few House members who personally justifies and explains his every vote on his Facebook page for constituents. Amash cries after missing first vote in Congress

Rep. Justin Amash has long boasted about not missing a single vote since he arrived in Congress in 2011 — 4,289 in a row, give or take a vote, if you're counting.

But on Friday, as he was railing against the GOP's Obamacare replacement bill off the House floor, Amash failed to notice a roll call had just closed. When he realized his streak had just ended, the blunt-spoken congressman broke down in tears.


The Michigan Republican — a vocal critic of GOP leaders and one of the few Republicans who's lambasted President Donald Trump — missed the vote as he was talking to reporters about his objections to the party's health care bill, which he’s dubbed “Obamacare 2.0.”

"#MI03, I'm sorry," he tweeted a few hours after the missed vote, referring to his 3rd Congressional DIstrict.

Now, Rep. Steve Womack, who was sworn in the same day as Amash, holds the record for the longest voting streak in the House: 4,294 votes.

The Arkansas Republican’s office wasted no time in touting the accomplishment.

“I have been sent to Washington by Third District Arkansans to make sure their voices are heard; voting is fundamental to that duty,” Womack said in a statement released just moments after the episode. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve my constituents and thank God that no personal hardships have kept me from representing them on a single vote since taking office.”

The missed vote is a sore topic for Amash. He's one of the few House members who personally justifies and explains his every vote on his Facebook page for constituents. He’s been known to boast about the perfect voting record.

Not anymore.

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Amash was speaking with reporters about the replacement bill in the speakers lobby when he suddenly asked what vote they were on. One reporter told him she believed it was the second amendment in the vote series.

Amash immediately sprinted into the chamber and tried to put his card in the voting slot to cast his yea or nay, but the vote had closed.

Amash approached floor staff and leadership to see if they could either re-open the vote or call it again. Staff said there was no precedent for doing so. Amash hung his head low and was overcome with emotion, those on the floor told POLITICO.