Same Democrats, Different Vote On Iran Terror Designation — What Changed?

Iran didn’t change — the White House did.

Just three years after Congress nearly unanimously condemned Tehran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, 53 House Democrats voted against reaffirming that same designation.

In January 2023, when President Joe Biden was in the White House, the House adopted a similar resolution condemning Iran by a vote of 420–1. The lone dissenting vote came from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) — meaning every Democrat serving in Congress at the time supported the measure.

Now, with President Donald Trump leading the United States during an escalating conflict with Iran, 53 Democrats voted against reaffirming that same designation on Thursday.

The vote came on House Resolution 1099, a non-binding measure reaffirming that Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, a designation the United States has maintained since 1984.

The resolution ultimately passed the House 372–53, with two members voting “present” and three not casting votes.

The party breakdown showed a stark divide. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the measure, with 215 voting in favor and none voting against. Democrats were far more split: 157 voted “yes,” 53 voted “no,” and two voted “present.”

The Democrats who voted against the resolution were:

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).

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed out the contrast shortly after the vote, noting that administrations of both parties have long maintained the same position: Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

Republicans argued the shift reflected partisan opposition to Trump rather than disagreement about Iran’s role in global terrorism.

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) said the change was obvious.

“They’re totally going off the cliff because of how much they hate the president,” Gill said. “The House voted on something substantially similar three years ago and nearly everyone supported it. Now you have 53 Democrats who won’t vote for a resolution that simply states Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) echoed that criticism, arguing Democrats opposing the measure were effectively shielding the Iranian regime.

“By denying this basic fact, these radical Democrats are defending the murderous Iranian regime and standing against America,” Scalise said.

Some Democrats, however, argued the resolution was politically motivated.

Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA) said in a Facebook post that she opposed the measure because she believed it was designed to justify Trump’s military actions involving Iran.

“I voted against H.Res. 1099, a Republican resolution that contains inaccuracies and is designed to justify the president’s actions,” Simon wrote.

Despite the Democratic opposition, the resolution passed overwhelmingly, reaffirming the longstanding U.S. position that the Iranian regime remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.