Senate Republicans block latest Iran war powers vote, but midterm pressure keeps building

The Senate handed President Trump a last-minute reprieve on Wednesday, rejecting a Democratic war powers resolution that would have limited his authority to wage war in Iran — but the vote exposed just how fragile Republican unity has become as midterm elections approach and gas prices keep climbing.

The outcome flipped from what had seemed like a certain defeat hours earlier. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky — both of whom had been at odds with the administration — changed their positions after White House meetings with Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Fox News. The final tally moved in Trump's favor.

I want to thank Vice President Vance and Special Envoy Witkoff for the thorough briefing this afternoon on Iran. I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns.— Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana

My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed and I have voted that way several times. But since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so. My vote of present is a way to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.— Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky

Trump's argument to holdouts was direct: the previous war powers resolution, which had passed over a month earlier, was undermining his negotiating leverage with Iran as talks continue toward a long-term peace deal beyond a 60-day memorandum of understanding. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Majority Whip John Barrasso, joined by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bernie Moreno, huddled in the GOP leader's office as the vote concluded and called Trump to share the result, according to Fox News.

Wow! The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for. Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. Thank you to Leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice!— President Donald Trump

But the legislative win masks a widening crack in Republican ranks. Across competitive House and Senate races, Trump-aligned candidates are increasingly distancing themselves from a war that polls show has become a liability — particularly on the economy.

A CNN poll released Tuesday found just 26 percent of American adults approve of Trump's handling of Iran, down from 33 percent a month after the conflict began, according to reporting by CBS News and Jewish World Review. Republican approval of his Iran handling has dropped from 73 percent in March to 60 percent. A separate CBS News poll found 67 percent of Americans want the conflict to end immediately, including 73 percent of independents and 30 percent of Republicans.

The political pressure is most visible in swing-state races. In Michigan, Senate candidate and former congressman Mike Rogers posted a video calling for the war to end, linking it directly to fuel costs and calling for a temporary embargo on diesel exports. Rogers had previously been an outspoken supporter of the conflict.

Michigan families are struggling with the price of everyday life. Groceries cost too much. We have to bring prices down. The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly. When it does, energy costs will plummet.— Mike Rogers, Michigan Republican Senate candidate

In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson — the Republican Senate candidate — wrote that 'the war needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end,' while also calling for a pause on diesel exports, a gas tax suspension, and a 'diesel relief program,' according to CBS News. Yet Hinson voted against a war powers resolution just last week, and told The Washington Post this month there is a 'need to finish the job,' according to Jewish World Review.

Iowans are being squeezed and shouldn't have to foot the bill at the pump or the checkout line for the war in Iran.— Rep. Ashley Hinson, Iowa Republican Senate candidate

Also in Iowa, Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks broke with Trump last week, voting with Democrats on a House resolution to block further action in Iran — joining Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina as new defectors, according to CBS News. Both represent districts Democrats are actively targeting, and Miller-Meeks first won her seat in 2020 by just six votes.

With the negotiating window closed, sustained combat operations now require congressional authorization. I will not support another open-ended war.— Rep. Zach Nunn, Iowa Republican

I will not vote to keep our soldiers in an open-ended war, with Iowans paying too much at the pump.— Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Iowa Republican

The war's economic toll is central to the revolt. The national average for regular gasoline stood at $4.47 on Tuesday, nearly $1.30 higher than a year ago, while diesel hit a record $6.53, according to AAA data cited by Jewish World Review. Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, and damage this month to Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline has further rattled oil markets, with analysts predicting further price increases in coming weeks.

The strain is particularly acute in agricultural states. Soaring diesel and fertilizer prices have squeezed Iowa farmers already struggling to sell crops like soybeans abroad following last year's trade wars, according to CBS News.

Beyond Iowa and Michigan, Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Tom Tiffany said Tuesday it is 'time to move on,' arguing the U.S. has degraded Iran's military. Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, defending his seat against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, told Politico the 'war needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices.' Michigan Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. John James said Tuesday the war 'needed to end quickly. Because war is terrible, and no one likes war,' according to CBS News.

Senate Majority Leader Thune acknowledged the political reality Wednesday, telling reporters there is 'voter fatigue' with high gas and diesel prices and calling it an 'economic frustration,' according to CBS News. He said he has encouraged Senate candidates to run their own campaigns even when they disagree with the president on some issues.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who has led Democratic efforts on war powers resolutions in the Senate, acknowledged after Wednesday's vote that 'this is a different moment,' but cautioned that the ceasefire appeared 'precarious right now,' according to Fox News. He also pushed back on Trump's argument that the earlier successful war powers vote had hurt U.S. leverage with Tehran.

The Iranians don't — you know, all they have to do is read a poll and find out that people in this country don't support the war. They didn't support the war.— Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut

With the Senate now in recess for more than two weeks, Wednesday's vote was the chamber's last opportunity before the midterms to formally challenge Trump's war authority. Whether the electoral pressure building in competitive districts translates into further legislative action — or simply louder campaign-trail rhetoric — will likely depend on how the Iran negotiations and fuel prices develop before November.

Why it matters — With the Senate now in recess until after the midterms, Wednesday's vote was the last formal congressional check on Trump's Iran war authority before November — and the outcome, won only through last-minute White House pressure, shows how thin the margin for the administration has become as fuel prices and public opposition continue to rise.

Sources differ on Whether the earlier Senate war powers vote hurt U.S. negotiating leverage with Iran: Trump argued the successful war powers resolution hurt his negotiating position with Iran and used this to flip Republican votes. (foxnews.com) vs Sen. Chris Murphy said the Iranians only need to read a poll to know Americans don't support the war, dismissing the leverage argument. (foxnews.com)

Reported by nytimes.com, politico.com, usnews.com, reuters.com, foxnews.com, jewishworldreview.com, cbsnews.com