The U.S. Congress Votes Database

109th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 142

  • Question: On the Cloture Motion
  • Category: Cloture
  • Vote description: Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of John R. Bolton, of Maryland, to be Representative of the United States to the United Nations
  • Vote type: 3/5 (Help)
  • Result: Rejected, 54-38, with 8 not voting.
  • Date/time: June 20, 2005, 6:04 p.m.
  • Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
  • Democrat majority opinion: No (Help)

Key Vote Analysis

With this vote Senate Democrats handed President Bush a political setback by blocking, for the second time, the confirmation of his controversial choice for U.N. Ambassador, John Bolton. During Bolton's confirmation hearings Democrats and some Republicans expressed concerns about Bolton's conduct during his tenure as an under secretary of state and other federal postings. Opponents accused him of being overly critical of the United Nations, the very organization where he would serve as an ambassador, and of using bullying and intimidation to force other government officials to conform to his opinions.

Bolton, who was widely considered as a "hawk" in the Bush administration, also came under fire from Democrats and some moderate Republicans over what they said was his role in the weapons of mass destruction argument put forward as justification for the Iraq war. Critics disputed testimony he had given to Congress about Syria, and his access and use of classified intelligence intercepts. Those concerns led to a stalemate with the White House over release of documents about Bolton's activities. Democrats demanded more documentation than the White House was willing to hand over.

Ultimately, Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist tried to invoke cloture, which would have ended debate and forced a vote on confirmation. But Democrats, joined by Ohio Republican George Voinovich, successfully blocked the move. Eventually, President Bush nominated Bolton the U.N. post during the August recess of the Senate -- meaning that Bolton would not have to immediately be approved by the Senate and could serve until the new Congress convenes in January 2007.

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Vote totals

Click to list individual members.

Yes No Not Voting
Aquarius John Cornyn, Mike Enzi, Judd Gregg, Arlen Specter, Craig Thomas, John Warner Tom Carper, Mark Dayton, Frank Lautenberg, Paul Sarbanes Conrad Burns, Herb Kohl
Aries Lincoln Chafee, John Ensign, Orrin Hatch, Richard Lugar Patrick Leahy
Cancer Lamar Alexander, Larry Craig, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Mikulski, George Voinovich Carl Levin
Capricorn Mike DeWine, Johnny Isakson, Mark Pryor, Jeff Sessions Evan Bayh, Jon Corzine Tim Johnson, John Thune
Gemini Lisa Murkowski, Gordon Smith Chris Dodd, Jay Rockefeller
Leo Liddy Dole Barack Obama Norm Coleman
Libra Chuck Hagel, Trent Lott, Jim Talent Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Blanche Lincoln, Patty Murray, Bill Nelson
Pisces George Allen, Kit Bond, Tom Coburn, Bill Frist, Mitch McConnell, Olympia Snowe Kent Conrad, Edward Kennedy, Joseph Lieberman, Kenneth Salazar Russ Feingold
Sagittarius Wayne Allard, Richard Burr, Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, Mary Landrieu Max Baucus, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer John Kerry
Scorpio Jim Bunning, Saxby Chambliss, James Inhofe, Mel Martinez, Ted Stevens Joe Biden, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Hillary Clinton, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Jack Reed
Taurus Mike Crapo, Pete Domenici, Jon Kyl, Ben Nelson, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Richard Shelby, David Vitter Byron Dorgan, James Jeffords, Debbie Stabenow, Ron Wyden
Virgo Bob Bennett, Sam Brownback, Jim DeMint, Chuck Grassley, John McCain, John Sununu Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye
Yes No Not Voting
Female Susan Collins, Liddy Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mary Landrieu, Lisa Murkowski, Olympia Snowe Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Hillary Clinton, Dianne Feinstein, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Debbie Stabenow
Male Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, David Vitter, John Warner Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Kent Conrad, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Daniel Inouye, James Jeffords, Edward Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Joseph Lieberman, Bill Nelson, Barack Obama, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Paul Sarbanes, Chuck Schumer, George Voinovich, Ron Wyden Conrad Burns, Norm Coleman, Russ Feingold, Tim Johnson, John Kerry, Herb Kohl, Carl Levin, John Thune
Yes No Not Voting
Midwest Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Mike DeWine, Chuck Grassley, Chuck Hagel, Richard Lugar, Ben Nelson, Pat Roberts, Jim Talent Evan Bayh, Kent Conrad, Mark Dayton, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Barack Obama, Debbie Stabenow, George Voinovich Norm Coleman, Russ Feingold, Tim Johnson, Herb Kohl, Carl Levin, John Thune
Northeast Lincoln Chafee, Susan Collins, Judd Gregg, Rick Santorum, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, John Sununu Hillary Clinton, Jon Corzine, Chris Dodd, James Jeffords, Edward Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Joseph Lieberman, Jack Reed, Chuck Schumer John Kerry
South Lamar Alexander, George Allen, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, John Cornyn, Jim DeMint, Liddy Dole, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Mary Landrieu, Trent Lott, Mel Martinez, Mitch McConnell, Mark Pryor, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, David Vitter, John Warner Joe Biden, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Bill Nelson, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes
West Wayne Allard, Bob Bennett, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Orrin Hatch, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Lisa Murkowski, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, Craig Thomas Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Dianne Feinstein, Daniel Inouye, Patty Murray, Harry Reid, Kenneth Salazar, Ron Wyden Conrad Burns
Yes No Not Voting
None Jon Corzine, Barack Obama
2006 George Allen, Lincoln Chafee, Mike DeWine, Bill Frist, Rick Santorum, Jim Talent Mark Dayton, James Jeffords, Paul Sarbanes Conrad Burns
2008 Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, Mike Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Hagel, James Inhofe, Mary Landrieu, Mitch McConnell, Mark Pryor, Pat Roberts, Jeff Sessions, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, John Warner Max Baucus, Joe Biden, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Frank Lautenberg, Jack Reed, Jay Rockefeller Norm Coleman, Tim Johnson, John Kerry, Carl Levin
2010 Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Tom Coburn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Johnny Isakson, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, David Vitter Evan Bayh, Barbara Boxer, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Daniel Inouye, Patrick Leahy, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Harry Reid, Kenneth Salazar, Chuck Schumer, George Voinovich, Ron Wyden Russ Feingold, John Thune
2012 John Ensign, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Ben Nelson, Olympia Snowe, Craig Thomas Daniel Akaka, Jeff Bingaman, Robert Byrd, Maria Cantwell, Tom Carper, Hillary Clinton, Kent Conrad, Dianne Feinstein, Edward Kennedy, Joseph Lieberman, Bill Nelson, Debbie Stabenow Herb Kohl
Yes No Not Voting
Alabama Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby
Alaska Lisa Murkowski, Ted Stevens
Arizona Jon Kyl, John McCain
Arkansas Mark Pryor Blanche Lincoln
California Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein
Colorado Wayne Allard Kenneth Salazar
Connecticut Chris Dodd, Joseph Lieberman
Delaware Joe Biden, Tom Carper
Florida Mel Martinez Bill Nelson
Georgia Saxby Chambliss, Johnny Isakson
Hawaii Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye
Idaho Larry Craig, Mike Crapo
Illinois Dick Durbin, Barack Obama
Indiana Richard Lugar Evan Bayh
Iowa Chuck Grassley Tom Harkin
Kansas Sam Brownback, Pat Roberts
Kentucky Jim Bunning, Mitch McConnell
Louisiana Mary Landrieu, David Vitter
Maine Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe
Maryland Barbara Mikulski, Paul Sarbanes
Massachusetts Edward Kennedy John Kerry
Michigan Debbie Stabenow Carl Levin
Minnesota Mark Dayton Norm Coleman
Mississippi Thad Cochran, Trent Lott
Missouri Kit Bond, Jim Talent
Montana Max Baucus Conrad Burns
Nebraska Chuck Hagel, Ben Nelson
Nevada John Ensign Harry Reid
New Hampshire Judd Gregg, John Sununu
New Jersey Jon Corzine, Frank Lautenberg
New Mexico Pete Domenici Jeff Bingaman
New York Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer
North Carolina Richard Burr, Liddy Dole
North Dakota Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan
Ohio Mike DeWine George Voinovich
Oklahoma Tom Coburn, James Inhofe
Oregon Gordon Smith Ron Wyden
Pennsylvania Rick Santorum, Arlen Specter
Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee Jack Reed
South Carolina Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham
South Dakota Tim Johnson, John Thune
Tennessee Lamar Alexander, Bill Frist
Texas John Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchison
Utah Bob Bennett, Orrin Hatch
Vermont James Jeffords, Patrick Leahy
Virginia George Allen, John Warner
Washington Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray
West Virginia Robert Byrd, Jay Rockefeller
Wisconsin Russ Feingold, Herb Kohl
Wyoming Mike Enzi, Craig Thomas
Yes No Not Voting
Baby boomer George Allen, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Lincoln Chafee, Tom Coburn, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, John Ensign, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Mary Landrieu, Mel Martinez, Lisa Murkowski, Mark Pryor, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, John Sununu, Jim Talent, David Vitter Evan Bayh, Maria Cantwell, Tom Carper, Hillary Clinton, Kent Conrad, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Blanche Lincoln, Patty Murray, Barack Obama, Jack Reed, Kenneth Salazar, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Stabenow, Ron Wyden Norm Coleman, Russ Feingold, Tim Johnson, John Thune
Pre-boomer Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Jim Bunning, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Larry Craig, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, Mike Enzi, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Ben Nelson, Pat Roberts, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, Craig Thomas, John Warner Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Daniel Inouye, James Jeffords, Edward Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Joseph Lieberman, Barbara Mikulski, Bill Nelson, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes, George Voinovich Conrad Burns, John Kerry, Herb Kohl, Carl Levin
Yes No Not Voting
Democratic Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Maria Cantwell, Tom Carper, Hillary Clinton, Kent Conrad, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Daniel Inouye, Edward Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Joseph Lieberman, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Bill Nelson, Barack Obama, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Paul Sarbanes, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Stabenow, Ron Wyden Russ Feingold, Tim Johnson, John Kerry, Herb Kohl, Carl Levin
Independent James Jeffords
Republican Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Lincoln Chafee, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, David Vitter, John Warner George Voinovich Conrad Burns, Norm Coleman, John Thune
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