These four GOP senators voted for Democrats’ Iran war powers resolution

Skip to content

Four Republican senators broke ranks to join nearly all Democrats in supporting a war powers resolution calling on the Trump administration to withdraw U.S. troops from the war with Iran.

GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Bill Cassidy (La.) all supported the measure in a Senate floor vote on Tuesday. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) joined Republicans in voting against it.

The four GOP members who voted for the measure are considered among a more moderate section of Republicans in the upper chamber of Congress. They all voted in favor of advancing the war powers resolution in May.

Cassidy particularly has become an outspoken critic of the Trump administration since his recent primary loss to a challenger backed by the president.

In a statement shared after his vote last month to advance this measure, the senator expressed his support for the administration’s efforts to weaken Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but he expressed concerns that the White House and Pentagon had “left Congress in the dark” on these military operations.

“In Louisiana, I’ve heard from people, including President Trump’s supporters, who are concerned about this war,” Cassidy said at the time. “Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified.”

Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) urged his Republican colleagues to vote down the measure in a floor speech ahead of the vote.

“If this passes, the Iranians are going to simply stand up and walk away from negotiations — they’re going to say this thing’s over,” Risch said.

Four House Republicans joined all Democrats to pass the war powers measure in the lower chamber earlier this month: GOP Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Tom Barrett (Mich.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio).

House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) celebrated the Senate resolution’s passage in a Tuesday statement shared on social media.

“I thank my Democratic colleagues and the Republicans who joined us across party lines for saying enough is enough,” Meeks said. “After months of war, billions of taxpayer dollars spent, and 14 dead U.S. service members, Trump’s illegal war hasn’t achieved a single core U.S. objective with respect to Iran.”

The measure does not have the force of law, but it also does not require Trump’s signature as a concurrent resolution.

Tags

Bill Cassidy

Bill Cassidy

Brian Fitzpatrick

Gregory Meeks

Gregory Meeks

Iran conflict

Iran war

James Risch

Jim Risch

Jim Risch

John Fetterman

John Fetterman

Lisa Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski

Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Susan Collins

Susan Collins

Thomas Massie

Tom Barrett

Trump administration

war powers

Warren Davidson

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.