War and the midterms

Democrats in competitive Senate races are attacking Republican opponents over Iran war votes, capitalizing on public anger about the conflict.

Voter disapproval

Polls show voters disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war and overwhelmingly believe he lacks an exit strategy.

War duration

Trump initially predicted the war would last four to six weeks. It has now stretched on for more than seven months.

War and prices

The U.S. and Israel launched the war February twenty-eighth. Gas prices are averaging above four dollars a gallon nationally.

Voter priorities

For voters, the economy and cost of living are still the dominant issues by a wide margin, though a large majority correctly link the war to energy prices and inflation.

Resolution votes

Since March, the House held six war powers resolution votes and the Senate held fourteen. Some resolutions passed, but none have overcome a presidential veto.

Iowa: Hinson's votes

Democrat Josh Turek said Republican Senator Ashley Hinson voted in favor of the Iran war seven times. Hinson voted against six resolutions calling for the war's end.

“has voted in favor of (the Iran war) seven times”

Hinson's Lebanon vote

One vote Turek cited was not a direct call to end the Iran war.In June, Hinson voted against a resolution to withdraw U.S.forces from hostilities in Lebanon, where there were no U.S.forces engaged in conflict.

Maine: Collins' reversed votes

Democrat Troy Jackson said Senator Susan Collins voted against ending the war nine times before voting for it five times. Jackson reversed the votes.

“voted against it nine times before she voted for it five times”

Collins' actual record

Collins voted against war powers resolutions five times before April thirtieth: March fourth, March eighteenth, March twenty-fourth, April fifteenth and April twenty-second. Since then she voted with Democrats nine times.

Ohio: Husted's procedural votes

Democrat Sherrod Brown said Republican Senator Jon Husted voted fourteen times for the war. Only one was on a resolution to end the war; the other thirteen were procedural votes keeping resolutions from the floor.

“voted 14 times for the war in Iran pushing gas, diesel prices to record highs”

Husted's stated position

Days before the most recent vote in September, Husted told Politico the war needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so gas prices can fall.

“The war needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices”

Georgia: Collins' seven votes

Senator Jon Ossoff said Republican Representative Mike Collins voted seven times for the war. Ossoff's campaign pointed to six war powers resolution votes and one national security appropriations vote.

“voted seven times for the war in Iran”

Expert context

Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said voting against war powers resolutions allows the president to continue his chosen policies.

“Voting against such a resolution, in effect, allows the president to continue his chosen policies”

War as tiebreaker

Republican strategist Brian Darling said when GOP candidates point to votes or statements that the war needs to end soon, it shows they understand widespread opposition to it.

“An issue that is on the top of minds for voters may prove to be a tie breaker in these Senate elections”