Democrats Could Challenge Trump’s Iran War After Midterm Sweep. A Previous Senate Vote Failed By Just One Vote.

Democrats could revive their efforts to restrict President Donald Trump's war in Iran after winning control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections. Their last attempt fell short in the Senate by just one vote.

The Senate rejected a resolution on Sept. 24 that would have directed Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress explicitly authorized the military campaign.

The measure failed 49–50, according to the official Senate voting record. Four Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, joined most Democrats in supporting it. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against the resolution, while Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland did not vote.

Tillis, who is leaving the Senate in January, had opposed earlier attempts to restrict Trump's military powers but changed his position in September.

The North Carolina Republican said the administration had failed to explain its strategy for the war adequately to lawmakers and the public, according to The Washington Post.

The resolution had already passed the Republican-controlled House in July by a vote of 214–208. Four House Republicans supported it alongside Democrats, according to House voting records.

A separate Iran war-powers resolution also passed the House in September, this time 220–204, with seven Republicans joining Democrats.

The new Congress will take office on January 3, giving Democrats control of the committees responsible for overseeing military spending and questioning administration officials about the conflict.

Democratic lawmakers could also seek restrictions on additional funding or demand more information about U.S. military operations in Iran.

The Congressional Research Service has identified military authorization, arms sales, sanctions and oversight of negotiations as areas where Congress can influence Washington's approach to the conflict.

The financial cost of the war has become another point of contention. The conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 and has disrupted oil supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to higher fuel prices.

Democrats repeatedly raised the cost of the fighting in their campaign against Trump's Republicans, arguing that American households were paying more for gasoline while billions of dollars were being spent on military operations.

Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey criticized the continued spending during the September Senate debate. "This war, which Donald Trump has said was worth the cost, keeps costing the American people more and more," Kim said, according to Stars and Stripes.

The Democratic victory does not give Congress an immediate means of ending the war.

The September measure was a concurrent resolution, which does not become law and is not sent to the president for signature. Its ability to compel the administration to withdraw forces is legally disputed, and the Trump administration has previously challenged congressional efforts to restrict its military operations.

Legislation imposing binding restrictions on war funding could also face a presidential veto. Overriding one would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

Trump acknowledged after the election that the Iran conflict had played a role in the Republican defeat, although he defended the decision to launch the military campaign.

He told Reuters that Iran was "a part" of the election result but maintained that the military action had been justified.

The president has also left open the possibility of further strikes against Tehran if negotiations fail.

Democrats have not announced a new vote on Iran war powers following Tuesday's election. But their control of Congress will give them more opportunities to bring the issue before lawmakers and question the administration's handling of the conflict.