# Senate advances Iran war resolution as GOP cracks widen  
**Published:** 2026-05-19T22:32:06.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/19/repub/us-senate-votes-to-advance-resolution-limiting-trump-war-in-iran-as-cassidy-flips/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/senate-advances-iran-war-resolution-as-gop-cracks-widen

The U.S. Senate voted 50-47 Tuesday to advance a War Powers Resolution that would limit President Donald Trump's ability to wage war in Iran without congressional authorization, [according to the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/19/repub/us-senate-votes-to-advance-resolution-limiting-trump-war-in-iran-as-cassidy-flips/). The breakthrough marked the first time the measure gained sufficient Republican support to advance to floor debate after seven previous failed attempts.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., provided the deciding vote, joining fellow Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Rand Paul of Kentucky. Cassidy's flip came just three days after [he lost his reelection bid in Louisiana's GOP primary](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/julia-letlow-advances-louisiana-senate-gop-runoff-sen-bill-cassidy-tra-rcna344954) to Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow.

"While I support the administration's efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury," Cassidy said in a statement after the vote. "In Louisiana, I've heard from people, including President Trump's supporters, who are concerned about this war."

The resolution by Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine would direct the president to withdraw armed forces from hostilities in Iran. However, the measure faces steep odds. [Three absent Republican senators would likely provide enough votes to defeat the underlying resolution if it reaches a final vote](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/20/us-senate-advances-resolution-to-curb-trumps-power-to-wage-war-on-iran), and Trump has indicated he would veto any measure that reaches his desk.

[Operation Epic Fury, which began February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has already resulted in 13 American service member deaths and 406 injured](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-is-Operation-Epic-Fury). The [operation has contributed to sinking Trump's approval rating to 37 percent](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans-midterms-iran.html), with 64 percent of poll respondents saying the president made the wrong decision launching the conflict.

The vote reflected growing Republican unease. [Multiple GOP senators have expressed concerns that the unpopular war could damage the party's midterm chances](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/20/us-senate-advances-resolution-to-curb-trumps-power-to-wage-war-on-iran). Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, did not vote. Earlier Tuesday, Trump endorsed Cornyn's Senate primary runoff challenger, state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has choked off global shipping, driving average gas prices to $4.53 per gallon. Americans are experiencing the economic ripple effects of a conflict that has killed over 1,700 civilians, including 307 children, [according to the Human Rights Activists in Iran organization](https://www.hra-iran.org/between-missiles-and-repression-hra-releases-new-report-on-us-israeli-operations-in-iran/).

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/19/repub/us-senate-votes-to-advance-resolution-limiting-trump-war-in-iran-as-cassidy-flips/)
- [NBC News - Sen. Bill Cassidy loses GOP primary in Louisiana](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/julia-letlow-advances-louisiana-senate-gop-runoff-sen-bill-cassidy-tra-rcna344954)
- [Al Jazeera - US Senate advances resolution to curb Trump's power to wage war on Iran](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/20/us-senate-advances-resolution-to-curb-trumps-power-to-wage-war-on-iran)
- [Britannica - What is Operation Epic Fury](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-is-Operation-Epic-Fury)
- [New York Times - Poll: Trump's approval rating sinks as Iran war approval fails](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans-midterms-iran.html)
- [Human Rights Activists in Iran - Between Missiles and Repression report](https://www.hra-iran.org/between-missiles-and-repression-hra-releases-new-report-on-us-israeli-operations-in-iran/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/19/repub/us-senate-votes-to-advance-resolution-limiting-trump-war-in-iran-as-cassidy-flips/.