Four Democrats split from the rest of their party to vote down the War Powers Resolution which would have halted President Donald Trump from continuing strikes against Iran without first gaining Congressional approval.
Much like it was in the Senate the day before, the measure was defeated in the Republican-led House of Representatives Thursday evening with a 212-219 vote.
With voting largely representing party lines, all but two GOP lawmakers moved against the measure—Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a lead sponsor of the resolution, and Warren Davidson of Ohio.
“The Constitution is clear… Our Constitution provides Congress initiatory powers of war,” said Massie during a rousing debate on the House floor. Massie has broken ranks from President Donald Trump and strayed from party lines on other key topics, such as the row over Greenland, often earning him the wrath of the Commander-in-Chief.
However, it’s arguably the Democrat votes that have garnered the most discussion.
Some Democratic members of the House who had previously stated an intention to vote against the War Powers Resolution, which was first introduced by Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna of California in June last year, reversed course. The impact of Trump joining forces with Israel last weekend to launch surprise strikes on Iran and the widening war that has since emerged prompted some to change their position.
“When it appeared we might preemptively vote on the War Powers Resolution while the U.S. and Iran were in the middle of negotiations, I said I would be a ‘no’ vote because I believed that calling up the resolution at that time could undermine negotiations and telegraph to the Ayatollah that we weren’t applying maximum pressure and that he could delay a deal, ” Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida said as he explained his change of heart. “A lot has changed in a week.”
While Moskowitz argued that “no one will miss” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in early strikes, and implored that Iran must be prohibited from ever having a nuclear weapon, he pointed to mounting concern over the lack of Congressional oversight.
“Over the last year, we have seen a ludicrous increase in the speed of Congress’ abdication of authority to the Executive Branch,” he argued. “We must begin to claw back that prerogative. We must reestablish our Article I authority which grants Congress all legislative powers.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer also changed course by voting to pass the resolution, voicing concern over, what he described as, the lack of a “coherent explanation of what precipitated this war.”
“What I have heard publicly and in classified briefings are shifting justifications and objectives from Administration officials and the President,” he said, adding that he hopes his questions will be answered in the coming weeks, ahead of the next vote during the week of March 23.
But four Democratic lawmakers did vote against the War Powers Resolution on Thursday, defying party leadership. Here’s who they are—and the reasons they offered for their votes:
Rep. Jared Golden of Maine
Rep. Jared Golden, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, has voted in favor of the Trump Administration’s position in a few recent votes. In February, he voted against a proposal from his party colleague to block Trump’s tariffs on Canada, the only Democrat to do so. He also voted last November against the majority of his party to end the record-long government shutdown.
Golden once again went against party lines on Thursday, instead sponsoring an alternative resolution alongside Rep. Gottheimer that would give Trump a 30-day window (instead of the current 60 days he has to make his case for ongoing operations) to end military action.
“The President has not provided sufficient clarity for why this action was necessary at this exact moment. But servicemembers are actively engaged in hostilities, our allies are under attack and the Iranian regime is more desperate than ever to reassert its power,” said Golden, in a statement released after the vote.
“While I do not believe that an abrupt about-face is a good course of action given the reality on the ground, that should not be construed as my approval. While conflict requires that we remain flexible to shifting circumstances, at this time I would not support Congressional authorization or funding for sustained combat operations.”
Golden argued that Trump has “so far acted within the authorities given to him by Congress through the War Powers Act of 1973” but warned that could change. “This is not an illegal war—but it could become one,” he said.
Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio
Rep. Greg Landsman co-sponsored the alternative measure put forward by his colleagues, but also voted against the War Powers Resolution.
He was critical of the Trump Administration’s attack on Iran, alongside Israel, but argued that the current operation still needs to be concluded.
“I think it’s important to say, look, this is not good policy. What’s better policy is to allow the military and our allies to finish this particular operation, which is targeted, just the missiles and the launchers and the ships. That’s it. And then be done,” he told C-SPAN.
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas
Rep. Henry Cuellar, in a statement shared with TIME, said he voted no on the resolution because he believes “Congress must exercise oversight responsibly while ensuring our military can protect American lives and interests.”
“I’m supporting a more responsible approach that provides clear oversight and stability. That’s why I helped introduce legislation that directs the President to end military action within 30 days unless Congress provides authorization,” he added, highlighting his support of the alternative resolution.
Cuellar emphasized he does not support an “endless war” and said Congress has a responsibility to “ensure that the use of military force is carefully reviewed, limited in scope, and guided by clear objectives.”
It isn’t the first time Cuellar has moved against the majority of his party, as he previously voted alongside many Republicans to end the government shutdown in November.
Rep. Juan Vargas of California
Rep. Juan Vargas voted against the resolution, in a move that set him aside from other San Diego representatives such as Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, and Mike Levin, who all moved to rein in Trump’s military action in Iran.
Vargas has not yet released a statement detailing his vote, nor has he expressed support for the alternative war powers resolution.
