The U.S. Congress Votes Database

110th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 207

  • Question: On the Cloture Motion
  • Category: Cloture
  • Vote description: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S.J.Res.14; A joint resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people.
  • Vote type: 3/5 (Help)
  • Result: Rejected, 53-38, with 1 voting Present and 7 not voting.
  • Date/time: June 11, 2007, 5:55 p.m.
  • Republican majority opinion: No (Help)
  • Democrat majority opinion: Yes (Help)

Key Vote Analysis

With this vote Democrats and some Republicans in the Senate sought to move forward on a measure that would have registered the Senate's official opposition to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, whose tenure was plagued by controversy.

The Washington Post reported that “Democrats fell seven votes short of the 60 needed to invoke cloture and begin the debate on a resolution condemning Gonzales.”

Seven Republicans distanced themselves from the Bush administration and refused to support the attorney general who had been a target of sharp criticism for five months.

Gonzales came under fire for his involvement in administration policies such as harsh interrogation policies, secret overseas prisons, and a domestic surveillance program. But his most controversial action was the firings of nine U.S. attorneys last year. The attorney general's critics claimed he fired the prosecutors for political reasons.

If passed, the resolution would have done nothing more than send a public rebuke to Bush and Gonzales. But enough Republicans were able oppose "cloture," effectively killing the measure.

As the Post reported, “Democrats were aware that victory on the vote was unlikely, but they claimed a symbolic triumph in getting more than a handful of Republicans to join the effort to publicly shame the attorney general.”

Gonzales, who initially claimed he would not step down amid the controversies, announced his resignation on August 27.

See other key votes in the 110th Congress

Vote totals

Click to list individual members.

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