Trending Now - GOP Senators Shift Stance as Opposition to Iran War Intensifies

WHO:

Boston.com - Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska switched her vote to halt the conflict.

AP News - Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky also voted against the war.

AP News - Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia is leading efforts to force votes on the war.

AP News - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed lawmakers regarding the war.

AP News - Senator John Barrasso is the No. 2 Republican in leadership.

AP News - Senator Mike Rounds is a Republican from South Dakota.

AP News - Senator Jeff Merkley is a Democrat from Oregon.

WHAT:

Boston.com - The Senate rejected a bid to end the Iran war.

AP News - The war powers legislation failed to advance with a vote of 49-50.

AP News - The Trump administration claims it has "terminated" hostilities with Iran.

AP News - Murkowski expressed skepticism about the administration's claim that hostilities have ended.

AP News - Democrats plan to continue forcing weekly votes on war powers resolutions.

WHERE:

AP News - The events are taking place in the Senate, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

AP News - The war began at the end of February.

AP News - The Senate vote occurred on a Wednesday.

WHY:

AP News - There is growing unease among Republican senators regarding Trump's war with Iran.

AP News - The Democratic effort is seen as a way to build political pressure on Trump to withdraw from the conflict or seek congressional authorization.

AP News - Concerns about high gas prices are influencing Republican unease as elections approach.

HOW:

AP News - The Trump administration has circumvented legal requirements to gain congressional approval for the military campaign.

AP News - The Senate is being pressured to weigh in on the direction of the conflict.

(UPDATED May 13, 2026 23:23 UTC)

In a significant development, the Senate has rejected a bid to end the Iran war, with the war powers legislation failing to advance by a narrow vote of 49 to 50. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska switched her vote to halt the conflict, joining Republican Senators Susan Collins and Rand Paul in opposing the war, while Democratic Senator Tim Kaine is leading efforts to force ongoing votes on war powers resolutions. The Trump administration claims it has "terminated" hostilities with Iran, but Murkowski expressed skepticism about this assertion, reflecting growing unease among Republican senators as concerns about high gas prices and upcoming elections loom.