Why House Democrats are waiting until mid-April to force an Iran war powers vote

House Democrats postponed a war powers vote blocking President Trump from unilaterally waging war with Iran until mid-April because they lacked sufficient votes to pass it, with four Democrats voting against the measure in a 212-219 defeat earlier this month. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) remains undecided on how he'll vote, and Democratic absences—including House Democratic caucus vice chair Ted Lieu, whose father recently died—created additional uncertainty about passage. A failed vote would effectively signal approval for Trump administration operations in the Middle East, prompting Democratic leadership to delay rather than risk another defeat. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said five or six Republicans are "on the fence" and potentially persuadable, while House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) indicated Democrats will hold the option "until we can pass it or events turn." Progressive groups are frustrated by the delay, with Indivisible's Andrew O'Neill arguing Democrats should force Republicans to vote "as urgently as possible."