Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) saved President Donald Trump again from a House defeat Thursday, as the lone Democrat to vote against legislation restricting the commander in chief’s ability to wage war with Iran.
Golden, who is retiring from Congress after this term, was the only House Democrat to vote against a war powers resolution by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). The measure deadlocked in a 212-212 vote. Under the House rules, a tie effectively means the legislation fails.
With Republicans holding a razor-thin majority, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) could afford to lose only two GOP votes before needing Democratic support. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Tom Barrett (R-MI) backed limiting Trump’s war powers, making Golden’s vote decisive.
The Maine Democrat indicated Wednesday that he would vote for a “clean” resolution, which Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) has already introduced and could come up for a vote as soon as next week. With the three Republican “yes” votes, his support could push the measure across the finish line in the House.
“President Trump, like all his predecessors, has refused to recognize the limitations of the War Powers Act, but to me the law is clear,” Golden wrote Wednesday. “His window for unilateral military engagement has closed. Hostilities, including the use of the U.S. fleet to impose a blockade of Iranian ports, cannot legally continue unless the president seeks, and wins, Congressional approval.”
