Many of the Democratic Party’s biggest congressional stars won’t be in the House chamber for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address on Wednesday, according to a running tally of public statements compiled by POLITICO.
That includes:
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.)
Senate President Pro Tem Patty Murray (Wash.)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.)
Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.)
Overall, more than 50 members of Congress have publicly indicated plans to boycott or not attend the afternoon address — and more are expected to announce they’re skipping this afternoon. That’s close to the 58 members of Congress who skipped Netanyahu’s 2015 speech.
Their decision isn’t sitting well with many Republicans. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called the Democratic boycotts “absolutely disgraceful” and “pandering to the most radical elements of the Democratic base” in floor remarks ahead of Netanyahu’s speech.
