Senate Republicans united Thursday to vote down a Democratic resolution to end the war in Iran, delivering a strong show of solidarity with the president ahead of the midterm elections.
Republicans in competitive races, such as Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Jon Husted of Ohio, helped defeat the resolution, which failed in a 49-50 vote.
Sen. James C. Justice, West Virginia Republican, questioned the wisdom of calling for an immediate end to the war against the Islamic regime in Tehran.
“If we pack up and leave, do we not think there’s going to be major consequences all over the place? We’re in a mess there, and our president’s trying to work through the wickets,” he told The Washington Times.
Four Republican senators — Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine — voted for the resolution.
Ms. Collins was the only Republican up for reelection in November to vote for the resolution. She has voted for multiple war powers resolutions, arguing the administration must get the Senate’s approval to continue hostilities.
Mr. Tillis was a new supporter of the resolution. He said the conflict had long exceeded the 60-day limit granted by law.
Every Democrat except for Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted in favor.
Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on resolutions to end the war, putting Republicans on the spot to show support for an unpopular war that has driven up the prices of oil and gasoline.
“They have been carrying water for this ridiculous and illegal war for months and months and months and not listening to their constituents,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia Democrat.
The House has voted three times in favor of resolutions against the Iran war, including this month, when seven Republicans defected to help one pass.
The Senate vote on Thursday came after Republicans in tough races called for a swift end to the war.
Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers, Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Rep. Thomas Tiffany, and Iowa Senate candidate Rep. Ashley Hinson are among the Republicans calling for the war to wrap up and help bring down high fuel prices.
“The war needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end,” Ms. Hinson said recently on social media.
Democrats have accused these candidates of flip-flopping out of political expediency.
“Where were these Republican sycophants over the last six-plus months when Democrats, in lockstep, have been fighting to end the war of choice in Iran?” quipped House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, before the vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, said the administration should be able to tie up loose ends in the conflict.
“Everybody wants to see wars come to a conclusion,” he said Wednesday, adding that the administration is working to open up shipping lanes to allow for a “lower price at the pump for a gallon of gasoline.”
The House and Senate passed a resolution in June disapproving of the war, but the administration ignored it.
Vice President J.D. Vance has said an abrupt withdrawal from the war would trigger “a worldwide energy crisis, so long as the Iranians keep on shooting at shipping, which we know that’s exactly what they would do.”
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