53 Democrats Vote Against Labeling Iran World’s Top State Sponsor of Terrorism

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H. Res. 1099, a nonbinding resolution reaffirming the Islamic Republic of Iran as the world’s “largest state sponsor of terrorism.” The measure cleared with a 372–53 margin, drawing support from all 215 voting Republicans and 157 Democrats. That means that all 53 opposing votes came from Democrats, with two additional Democrats voting present!

Following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, the United States launched “Operation Epic Fury,” an ongoing military campaign that has deepened congressional divisions over executive war powers and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, the vote took place.

The Resolution

Sponsored by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), the resolution condemns Iran’s financial and military support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and declares it U.S. policy that Iran remains the foremost state sponsor of terrorism. This is consistent with longstanding State Department designations.

The measure states that Iran “poses a direct and persistent threat to the United States and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American citizens,” citing Pentagon data attributing at least 603 U.S. service member deaths in Iraq to Iranian-backed militias, roughly one in six American combat fatalities in that conflict.

The resolution also raises alarm over Iran’s nuclear activities, referencing International Atomic Energy Agency concerns about the regime’s growing enriched uranium stockpiles and restricted access to nuclear sites. While symbolic and legally non-binding, it serves as a formal congressional rebuke of Iran amid active U.S. military engagement with the regime and its proxies.

Opposition and Its Arguments

The 53 dissenting Democrats included several prominent progressives and members of the so-called “Squad”:

• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
• Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)
• Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.)
• Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.)
• Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)
• Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas)
• Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first openly transgender identifying member of Congress

The full list of Democrats who voted against the resolution, in alphabetical order:

Donald Beyer (VA), Suzanne Bonamici (OR), André Carson (IN), Greg Casar (TX), Joaquin Castro (TX), Yvette Clarke (NY), Steve Cohen (TN), Danny K. Davis (IL), Maxine Dexter (OR), Lloyd Doggett (TX), Dwight Evans (PA), Lizzie Fletcher (TX), Valerie Foushee (NC), Maxwell Frost (FL), Robert Garcia (CA), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL), Al Green (TX), Raúl Grijalva (AZ), Val Hoyle (OR), Jared Huffman (CA), Sara Jacobs (CA), Pramila Jayapal (WA), Hank Johnson (GA), Robin Kelly (IL), Ro Khanna (CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL), Summer Lee (PA), Sarah McBride (DE), Morgan McGarvey (KY), Jim McGovern (MA), LaMonica McIver (NJ), James Menefee (IL), Rob Menendez (NJ), Gwen Moore (WI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Ilhan Omar (MN), Chellie Pingree (ME), Mark Pocan (WI), Ayanna Pressley (MA), Delia Ramirez (IL), Emily Randall (WA), Luz Rivas (CA), Linda Sánchez (CA), Jan Schakowsky (IL), Lateefah Simon (CA), Mark Takano (CA), Rashida Tlaib (MI), Lori Trahan (MA), Lauren Underwood (IL), Nydia Velázquez (NY), Maxine Waters (CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ), Nikema Williams (GA).

Several opponents argued that the resolution was less a factual statement than a political instrument. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) said the measure “contains inaccuracies and is designed to justify the President’s actions in Iran,” accusing Republicans of “playing politics” while providing “pretext for a war that should not have been started.” She argued the resolution does nothing to support Iranians seeking freedom from the regime.

The partisan character of the vote stands in notable contrast to a similar resolution passed in 2023 under President Biden, which cleared the chamber 401–1, a gap that suggests the current divide is driven at least in part by opposition to the Trump administration’s conduct of the conflict rather than disagreement over Iran’s record.

Not all Democratic supporters were uncritical. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted in favor while publicly characterizing the broader military campaign as a “war of choice.”

Broader Context

The vote coincided with the defeat of a War Powers Resolution (H. Con. Res. 38) that would have directed the president to halt military operations in Iran. That measure failed 212–219, largely along party lines, with two Republicans joining most Democrats in support and four Democrats siding with Republicans against it.

Republican supporters framed opposition to H. Res. 1099 as at odds with basic national security priorities. Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.) pointed to a bipartisan intelligence briefing that outlined Iran’s nuclear ambitions and terrorist activities, arguing that the evidence demands a firm U.S. response.

As American military involvement in the region continues to deepen, the vote underscores the widening congressional fault lines over the role of Iran in global terrorism, and the broader question of whether the Democratic Party is really for the people of these United States or not.

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