Al Green Is Missing His Own Primary Election to Attend a Classified War Briefing

Congressman Al Green (D-TX) announced yesterday that he would attend a classified congressional briefing on the country's ongoing military conflict today, choosing the job over campaigning in his own district on one of the most important days of his reelection race.

As voters head to the polls to take part in the Texas primary elections, Rep. Green, who represents Houston and surrounding communities, including Stafford and Missouri City, attended the briefing.

He held a press conference yesterday to explain why he would be attending the briefing.

At 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Congress is set to receive a classified briefing on the war, featuring some of the country's top national security officials, including:

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio
• The Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
• CIA Director John Ratcliffe
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Kaine

The briefing comes as Congress prepares to take up a War Powers Resolution, a measure that would require congressional authorization for the ongoing military operation.

Continuing Stance

Green said he had previously sent a letter to the Speaker of the House requesting that Congress be reconvened to address the resolution. "The speaker has decided that we shall do this, and it looks like it will take place this week in Congress," he said.

As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Green said he has been in regular contact with Ranking Member Benny Thompson (D-MS). "It's important to talk to your ranking member, but it's also important to be at the briefing," he emphasized.

He was direct about the tradeoff he was making, acknowledging that a significant community event was taking place in Houston on Tuesday but saying it did not change his plans. "Tomorrow is a workday for us in Congress. It's not just another work day. This is a briefing on a war that our country is engaged in," he said.

Green pointed to his 97.9% voting record over 20 years in office, noting that he once cast a deciding vote from a wheelchair following major surgery. "I will not be here campaigning when I'm supposed to be in Washington DC voting," he said.

The classified nature of today's briefing means lawmakers will be unable to publicly discuss what is shared inside the room.

"When it takes courage, you can count on me, and when it takes being on the job to cast a vote, you can count on me," Green said.