House hands Trump a win with failed Iran war powers vote

House Democrats failed Thursday to pass a https://www.axios.com/2026/04/09/trump-iran-democrat-congress-war-powers-vote" target="_blank">war powers resolution that would constrain President Trump's ability to wage war with Iran.

Why it matters: It is the https://www.axios.com/2026/04/09/trump-iran-democrat-congress-war-powers-vote" target="_blank">third https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-house-democrats-republicans-war-powers" target="_blank">time Democrats have tried and failed to pass an Iran war powers resolution, which some lawmakers fear will be seen as a green light to the Trump administration to keep ignoring Congress.

• The measure, introduced and forced to a vote by House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), failed 213 to 214.

What happened: Centrist Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted with Republicans against the measure, while libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voted with Democrats to pass it.

• Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), who voted to pass an Iran war powers resolution last month, voted "present" on Thursday.
• Reps.

  Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who voted against the measure last month, flipped and voted for it.