LEBANON, OH — Cincinnati Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman explained his vote against the war powers resolution to dozens of constituents at a town hall on March 22.
Landsman was one of four Democrats to vote against a war powers resolution to stop military action in Iran without congressional approval. He’s faced criticism from his primary opponent and on social media in recent weeks after the vote.
At a town hall on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Lebanon, a city of 21,000 north of Cincinnati, Landsman told a crowd of dozens “it’s time to be done” in Iran, echoing a statement he released two days earlier.
“I just thought and still believe with the regime and the opportunity to be done, at least for a period of time, with this threat, was an important step to take,” he said.
Landsman said at the event hosted by the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon that the original plan was to destroy the shield of ballistic missiles and other weapons in Iran, and while he supported that he didn’t believe the United States should be involved in regime change.
The congressman also fielded questions about the SAVE Act, civil discourse, affordable housing, data centers and immigration at the event at Lebanon Theater Co., a nonprofit community theater. Landsman hosts publicized town halls more frequently than Greater Cincinnati’s other Ohio congressmen, Rep. Warren Davidson and Rep. David Taylor.
Landsman: ‘I tend to be more hawkish on these things’
One resident asked Landsman if he believes Dr. Martin Luther King would be on his side regarding the conflict in Iran.
“No, I don’t think so. I think King would be on my side in terms of fixing the tax code, health care,” Landsman said. “I think this would be hard for King to get behind.”
Landsman attributed his stance to learning about Hitler and the opportunities world powers had to intervene as a young Jewish child.
“I tend to be more hawkish on these things. I think the sooner you can take care of evil, the better,” he said. “I mean, we could have stopped (Hitler) in Austria, we could have stopped him in Poland, and in the end, because we didn’t, too many people died in that war.”
Landsman said he plans to vote for the next war powers resolution that comes before the U.S. House.
What is Rep. Greg Landsman’s district?
Ohio lawmakers redrew the congressional districts in October 2025, resulting in a map Republicans hailed as in the best interests of the state and a Democratic leader in the state Senate called the best of all their bad options. The map that will be used in this year’s election includes Clinton County, in addition to Warren County and parts of Hamilton County, in Ohio’s 1st District.
Landsman will face Damon Lynch IV, son and grandson of two civil rights activists and pastors in Cincinnati, in the Democratic primary on May 5.
Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X and @eringlynn on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Greg Landsman talks Iran vote, ‘hawkish’ tendency at town hall
Reporting by Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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