U.S. Strikes Iran June 2026: Senate Republicans Split on Peace Deal | GOP Digest June 1, 2026

U.S. Bombs Iran, Peace Deal Fractures Senate GOP:

U.S. forces struck Iranian radar and drone sites Monday morning even as the Trump administration says it is "very close" to a peace deal that would open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for easing sanctions on Iran. Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham have condemned the emerging framework as weaker than Obama's JCPOA, warning any sanctions relief without verified nuclear rollback would be a strategic catastrophe. The Senate is expected to vote this week on a war powers resolution directing Trump to withdraw U.S. forces — a vote that is dangerously close to passing, with four Republican senators having already voted yes before recess.

Senate Back, Reconciliation and FISA on the Clock:

John Thune vowed to push the $72B ICE and CBP reconciliation package to a vote this week after Congress missed Trump's self-imposed June 1 deadline. The sticking point: a $1.776B "anti-weaponization" fund meant to compensate people claiming unfair Biden-era DOJ prosecution, which has drawn resistance from enough Senate Republicans to stall the bill. Separately, FISA Section 702 — the government's warrantless surveillance authority — expires June 12, adding a second hard deadline. Rep. Byron Donalds pointed squarely at the Senate: "What really holds up this town — what holds up this town more and more: lazy senators."

Ken Paxton Meets with Thune as Cook Shifts Race to 'Lean R':

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed Sunday he will meet this week with John Thune, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, and others to unify the conference behind his November campaign. The meeting comes as Cook Political Report downgraded Texas from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican" following his runoff win over four-term incumbent John Cornyn — a seat Republicans have held without interruption since 1994. One GOP strategist called the Trump endorsement a "$100 million mistake." Paxton dismissed the doubts, predicting an "easy" win over Democratic nominee state Rep. James Talarico.

June 16 Double Runoff, Early Voting Opens June 8:

Georgia Republicans face two simultaneous nomination fights in marquee races. In the Senate primary, Mike Collins leads Derek Dooley heading into the June 16 runoff after Collins finished first with 40.5% on May 19. In the governor's race, Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones faces self-funded billionaire Rick Jackson, who has poured over $83 million into the race. Democrats have clean nominees Jon Ossoff (Senate) and Keisha Lance Bottoms (Governor) waiting with maximum time to campaign. Early voting begins June 8.

South Carolina Redistricting Collapses, Clyburn District Survives:

Trump's push to eliminate South Carolina's majority-Black congressional district — held for 34 years by Rep. James Clyburn — failed in the state Senate when 12 Republicans broke ranks on a procedural vote, joining all 12 Democrats to block the map. Several GOP senators cited the timing: early voting for the June 9 state primary was already underway. The failure costs Republicans a potential House pickup heading into November and keeps the Clyburn district intact through this cycle.

Schumer Vows All-Out Fight to Block ICE Funding Bill:

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that Democrats will mount an "all-out effort" to kill the anti-weaponization fund provision inside the ICE and CBP reconciliation package — in effect blocking $72B in border enforcement funding that Trump has demanded. Republicans argue Schumer is protecting Biden-era DOJ officials from accountability and that Democrats are willing to leave ICE and Border Patrol underfunded rather than allow any mechanism for challenging political prosecutions.