Republican battleground candidate opposes Iran war but won’t challenge Trump’s war powers
by George Caldwell · The Washington TimesA Republican trying to flip a Northern Maine congressional district is telling voters he wants the Iran war to end, but will not force President Trump’s hand.
Former Gov. Paul LePage is delivering that message in a district that favored Mr. Trump in 2024 but that year also elected Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who is retiring.
The district is one of November’s most closely watched battlegrounds.
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“I do not support the war in Iran,” he said on the debate stage Thursday. “I do support not allowing Iran to get … a nuclear bomb. And so I’m urging the president to work as fast, as vigilant as possible to get this done quickly. Let’s get out of it.”
Mr. LePage’s Democratic opponent, State Auditor Matt Dunlap, prompted the discussion by blaming the war for high energy prices.
“One thing that we could do to help lower the cost of energy very quickly is to pass a war powers resolution and stop this war in Iran, which my opponent won’t say whether or not he supports,” said Mr. Dunlap.
Mr. LePage said the War Powers Act, a 1973 law meant to prevent the president from waging war without Congress’ approval, is unconstitutional.
“The president of the United States is the commander in chief,” said Mr. LePage. “It’s not given to Congress. It’s given by constitutional powers to the president.”
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They are vying to succeed a rare Democrat who previously signed off on Mr. Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran.
Mr. Golden voted against early Iran war powers resolutions, but has since supported them, arguing the administration has not obtained proper authorization to continue the war.
Mr. LePage said Congress’ power of the purse gives it a strong say in whether or not the president goes to war.
“Congress has to authorize the money. So if the president wants to go to war and Congress doesn’t give him the money, then he doesn’t go to war,” he said.
Mr. Dunlap challenged that interpretation.
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“The Constitution says that Congress has the sole authority to declare war. The War Powers Act is something that came on much later, and it’s been abused in this case,” he said.
“Congress has done nothing. They’ve just completely rolled over for the president. And this is one of the reasons why people are yearning for some change.”
If Mr. Dunlap wins the election, it will be a dramatic turnover from a moderate Democrat to an ally of socialist icon Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
Mr. Dunlap entered the race as a primary challenger to Mr. Golden before the incumbent announced his retirement.
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Since Mr. Golden’s retirement announcement, the political forecasters at The Cook Political Report have rated the election outcome as “likely Republican.”
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George Caldwell
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