Alaska's senators split as Senate rejects Iran war powers motion 49-50

The U.S. Senate refused Thursday to advance a resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran that Congress has not authorized. The motion to discharge failed 49-50, one vote short.

Alaska's two Republican senators split. Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted yea. Sen. Dan Sullivan voted nay. The resolution remains in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Earlier votes this summer

The chamber has taken up similar measures repeatedly in recent weeks. An earlier Alaska News article on the July 23 vote noted that a similar motion failed 47-49, with Sullivan voting no and Murkowski not voting. On June 16, another motion failed 47-48, with Murkowski voting yes and Sullivan no. The U.S. House passed its own resolution directing the president to remove forces from hostilities with Iran on July 23, 214-208.

The votes sit on either side of a long-running constitutional argument over who controls the use of military force. The House, in passing its resolution "directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran," asserted that continued hostilities require explicit congressional authorization. Senators who have blocked the discharge motions have declined to direct a withdrawal, leaving the president's latitude to conduct operations in place. The outcome determines whether service members, including those stationed in Alaska, continue to face combat deployment in the conflict without a congressional authorization.

The Senate record shows only the roll call. Neither senator issued an explanation in the vote record.

What's ahead

Sullivan's votes on Iran are already an issue in his reelection campaign. His seat is on the ballot this year. A new federal filing shows AB PAC reported spending $181,022 on television advertising opposing him, part of $588,045 the committee reports spending against Sullivan so far this calendar year. A separate filing shows Midnight Sun PAC reported $28,853.80 in direct mail supporting Democrat Mary Peltola in the Alaska Senate race.