The unity of Democrats against Trump faces a test after the American and Israeli strikes on Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Democrats frustrated by their exclusion from power in Washington, the past few months have provided reason for optimism.

The often ideologically divided party has largely united in opposition to President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration tactics, especially after the killings of American citizens in Minneapolis. Heading into the midterm election year, with them just a few seats away from regaining the majority in the US House of Representatives, Democrats have also kept the White House on the defensive by criticizing Trump’s economic policies and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the accused sex offender.

But American and Israeli strikes against Iran could test the strength of this cohesion. Initially, Democrats balanced condemnation of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed over the weekend, with calls for Congress to quickly pass a war powers resolution that would restrict Trump’s offensive options.

“Once our resolution is on the table, senators need to choose a side,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday. “Stand with Americans who do not want war, or stand with Donald Trump as he single-handedly starts another war.”

Democratic divisions that enter into the war powers vote

But some divisions are surfacing as a group of Democrats, especially those who strongly support Israel, express reservations about the war powers measure. Rep. Greg Landsman, Democrat of Ohio, will not support a resolution on Iran. Before the strike, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., also said he would vote no.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who supported a vote on Venezuela-related war powers in January, also broke with Democrats on the Iranian action and rejected arguments that the attack was illegal, sparking frustration among some party leaders.

“John Fetterman knows better,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday on CNN.

Republicans also face internal opposition. Trump, who has done little to prepare Americans for the possibility of such a dramatic conflict, said on Monday that the operation could last four to five weeks. He has not articulated a clear exit strategy and warns that US casualties could mount, which would severely test voters’ patience with the conflict.

The war could also lead to higher gas prices and economic volatility that could bolster Democrats’ arguments that the president is out of touch with the financial reality facing many Americans.

Read more: The US economy is already unstable. The war in Iran could increase this uncertainty

However, Republicans see an opportunity to portray Democrats as opponents of Trump.

“For my Democratic colleagues, this is not about what is best for our national security or what is best to protect the American people,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-Los Angeles. “It’s about how to defeat Donald Trump.”

Fierce debate among Democrats over Israel

Democrats have witnessed intense internal debate over the party’s relationship with Israel in the wake of the Gaza war. Then-US President Joe Biden’s loyalty to Israel during the height of the 2024 campaign stood in stark contrast to younger generations angry at the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. By the time Kamala Harris rose to the top of the ticket that year, she was struggling to win over some of the younger voters who play a crucial role in Democrats’ success.

Paco Fabian, political director of the progressive advocacy group Our Revolution, acknowledged that Democrats are “not monolithic.” But he also noted that a shift is underway, pointing to the results of a special election in New Jersey last month.

During that campaign, the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC sought to thwart a moderate candidate, Tom Malinowski, after he questioned unconditional aid to the Israeli government. These efforts appeared to backfire as the more progressive challenger, Analilia Mejía, won the primary.

“Given what’s happening now, I don’t think this time is doing AIPAC and Israel any favors,” Fabian said.

Sympathy toward Israel appears to be changing. Three years ago, 54% of Americans sympathized more with Israelis, compared to 31% for Palestinians, according to a Gallup poll released last month. Now, their support is almost evenly balanced, with 41% saying their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians, and only 36% saying the same about the Israelis.

Americans’ initial reactions to the airstrikes were more negative than positive, as early opinion polls indicated. A CNN poll conducted via text message over the weekend found that about 6 in 10 American adults disapproved of the US decision to take military action in Iran. A separate poll conducted by The Washington Post via text message on Sunday indicated that about half of those surveyed opposed the strikes, while 39% supported them. Nearly 1 in 10 were unsure.

It was Democrats and independents who led much of the disapproval in those early polls, while Republicans were more supportive.

Elections this week may show the impact of the attacks

The initial political impact of the attacks in Iran may be felt Tuesday during the first primaries of this year’s midterm campaign.

In North Carolina, Durham County Commissioner Nidaa Alam had already begun her bid to unseat two-term Rep. Valerie Fauci, with support from Our Revolution and other top progressives. After receiving support from AIPAC-affiliated groups during its 2022 campaign, Fauci’s campaign has declined such contributions this cycle. She said over the weekend that she did not support Trump’s “unlawful war with Iran” and would support the war powers resolution.

However, Alam, who would be the first Muslim elected to North Carolina’s Congress, was quick to post a video before Tuesday’s vote criticizing Trump for “starting another endless war” and promising to never accept support from the “pro-Israel lobby.”

In Texas, where high-profile Senate primaries were held on Tuesday, Democratic voters expressed concern about the attacks.

He watches: What’s at stake for Democrats and Republicans in the Texas Senate primary

“It shouldn’t have happened,” said Charles Padmore, 45, an independent contractor in Houston. “Affordability should be a top priority on Trump’s list.”

Alex Diaz, 31, a high school biology teacher in Houston, called Iran’s bombing “unjustified.”

He said: “You are trying to start a third world war, and we do not need that now.”

The fallout could spread to other competitions this month. Ahead of the March 17 primary in Illinois, groups aligned with AIPAC also criticized Daniel Pace, the mayor of Evanston who is aiming to become the Democratic nominee to succeed retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. In an interview, Pace spoke about “the backlash I hear from people against AIPAC, their MAGA-aligned money and their Trump-aligned political agenda.”

Asked about such predictions, Patrick Dorton, spokesman for AIPAC’s super PAC, said, “The main difference will be between those who realize that Iran is a murderous regime that tortures women for leaving their hair uncovered, hangs gays, and executes peaceful democracy protesters, and those who will turn a blind eye to the regime’s atrocities.”

Calls for the formation of a “unified opposition party”

As Congress moves toward a potential vote on war powers this week, Pace said there is a need for Democrats to act “as a strong, clear, vocal and unified opposition party.”

“I would also like to see the Democratic Party united not just on the procedural argument but on the fundamental recognition that this war is wrong,” he added.

On Capitol Hill, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said he was less concerned about party unity than the prospect of achieving a bipartisan vote on the War Powers Resolution. Ultimately, three Republicans supported the Venezuela resolution in January.

“What I want to see happen is the passage of a war powers resolution,” he said. “I’m not focusing on what the Democrats as a whole are doing. We’re going to have different opinions between Democrats and Republicans.”

Associated Press journalists Lynley Sanders in Washington and Juan Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.