Kimberly Overman
Role at the time: Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Florida's 12th district, in an email to Dispute Index
Statement summary
Kimberly Overman, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Florida's 12th district, sent Dispute Index four passages she said she has used about the war in the Middle East. In them she says the United States "should not drift into another open-ended forever war" without Congress acting, that sustained military action requires "debate, transparency and a vote" except in cases of an imminent threat, and that the war is driving up fuel prices. She did not say how she would vote on a war powers resolution.
“The United States should not drift into another open-ended forever war in the Middle East without Congress doing its constitutional job. Except in cases of an imminent threat, sustained military action requires debate, transparency and a vote.”
Read the full email
Many thanks for your email -- here are what I have said regarding the Forever war in the Middle East: - “We cannot separate foreign policy from the family budget. The war in the Mideast is disrupting energy markets and helping drive oil, gasoline and diesel prices higher.” - “When diesel rises, the impact does not stop at the gas station. It gets built into trucking, agriculture, construction, deliveries and ultimately the price of food and consumer goods.” - “The United States should not drift into another open-ended forever war in the Middle East without Congress doing its constitutional job. Except in cases of an imminent threat, sustained military action requires debate, transparency and a vote.” - “If Congress asks Americans to bear the human, fiscal and economic costs of war, members should have to put their names on that decision and explain the objective, the strategy and the exit conditions.” Again, many thanks for your email.
Why we used this label
The case tracks support for continued U.S. military operations against Iran, which Congress has not formally authorized, including whether a candidate would vote for a war powers resolution to remove U.S. forces from hostilities. Overman opposes an open-ended war without Congress and says sustained military action requires a vote, except in cases of an imminent threat, but she does not reject the operation itself or say she would vote to remove U.S. forces. Her position depends on Congress authorizing the action, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional.