The Seven Democrats Who Joined Republicans to Oppose the Measure Blocking Arms Sales to Israel

(SeaPRwire) –   The Senate voted down a resolution to prevent the sale of military equipment to Israel, with seven Democrats siding with Republicans in a 40-59 vote.

The joint resolution, proposed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who aligns with Democrats, aimed to stop the transfer of military bulldozers to Israel.

Forty senators ultimately backed the resolution in a late Wednesday session. The seven Democratic Senators who voted against it were Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Chris Coons of Delaware, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

A second proposal to block the sale of 12,000 1,000-pound bombs to Israel received 36 votes in favor and 63 against.

The outcome highlighted a wider change in sentiment among Senate Democrats, as an increasing number are diverging from the party’s long-standing backing of Israel. This change occurs amid coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the continuation of Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon despite cease-fire discussions—conflicts that have raised Democratic concerns about civilian deaths, regional instability, and ongoing American engagement.

The votes followed shortly after a separate War Powers resolution designed to halt U.S. military involvement in Iran was defeated 47-52, with votes mostly falling along party lines.

Sanders characterized the degree of Democratic backing for the resolutions as a “shift” that “reflects where the American people are.”

“Americans, regardless of being Democrats, Republicans, or independents, prefer to see their tax dollars spent on enhancing lives domestically – not on killing innocent women and children in the Middle East or endangering American troops in Netanyahu’s illegal wars of expansion,” he stated late Wednesday.

Sanders has put forward comparable measures before. An attempt in November 2024 gained support from 18 senators, while a July 2025 resolution to block the sale of assault rifles to Israel received 27 Democratic votes, which was then more than half the caucus.

“However, being a steadfast friend to Israel does not necessitate agreement with every decision of the Israeli Government or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just as being a patriot of the United States does not demand unquestioning support for the policy decisions of President Donald Trump and his administration,” California Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla said in a joint statement after supporting the resolutions. Both had voted against similar measures previously.

Sanders stated the votes indicated increasing discomfort among Democratic voters with the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the expanding conflicts in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

“In significant and rising numbers, they do not want us to keep spending billions of their taxpayer dollars to support the illegal, horrific, and expansionist war policies of the Netanyahu government in Israel,” Sanders said on the Senate floor, referencing an April Pew Research Center survey that found 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans hold a negative view of Israel.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly also voted for the resolutions after opposing some of Sanders’ prior initiatives. Before the vote, Kelly said his stance was influenced by the actions of Netanyahu and Trump.

“The United States and Israel are waging a war against Iran without a defined strategy or objective. I have stated clearly that I am against this war in Iran and the irresponsible decisions by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump,” he said in Senate floor remarks.

Idaho Republican Sen. Jim Risch, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he would oppose the measures because they would “embolden” Iran.

“It would signal that the United States is ready to let our ally Israel become more vulnerable to Iranian attacks and endanger the tens of thousands of Americans residing there,” he stated on the Senate floor.

Below are statements from the seven Democrats who voted against the measure.

TIME has reached out to each of their offices for additional comment.

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was among the most notable Democrats to dissent from his party on the Senate floor. He did not provide an immediate explanation for his opposition.

Despite being a vocal critic of Trump’s war in Iran, Schumer did not back the motion to halt arms sales to Israel.

He is under increasing pressure to change his position, following the arrest of protesters at a demonstration near his office on Monday urging him to support blocking U.S. weapons sales to Israel.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

Gillibrand similarly faced protests this week near her New York offices, where demonstrators called on her to support Sanders’ measures. The protests were organized by the antiwar group Jewish Voice for Peace.

Gillibrand has also not yet explained her opposition to the measures.

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware

Coons stated that while he supports ending the war in Iran, he voted against Sanders’ resolutions on Israel because he did not wish to “abandon” the nation.

“My votes should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the Netanyahu government’s actions nor as a desertion of the state of Israel, the Jewish people, or the US-Israel relationship,” he said in a post-vote statement.

Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania

Fetterman has consistently been a strong supporter of Israel and has often voted against his party, including being the only Democrat to vote against limiting Trump’s authority to persist with the Middle East conflict.

He confirmed his opposition to the measures in a Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures interview with Maria Bartiromo this week.

“It’s the right side to stand for Israel. It’s the right side to stand for our military and confronting the Iranian regime,” he said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

Blumenthal did not immediately issue a comment on his decision to oppose the measure.

The Democratic senator previously supported Israel’s military strikes on Iran conducted last June.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada

Cortez Masto did not initially provide a reason for her opposition to Sanders’ measure.

However, she was reported to have supported the War Powers resolution intended to “stop Trump’s war of choice in Iran.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada

Rosen has also not commented on her vote against both measures, though she has been a leading advocate for Trump’s cease-fire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.