Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D — N.Y.) and his allies are still hoping to pass several election bills that would federalize and micromanage the state election process.
But thanks to the courage of two Senators, those hopes were dealt a significant blow, at least for now.
Fox News has more:
Democrats' attempt to use a "nuclear option" to get around the filibuster for two major elections bills failed Wednesday [January 19] after the gambit from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was stymied by Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.
Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sinema, D-Ariz., joined all Senate Republicans in opposing the attempt to alter the Senate filibuster on party lines, resulting in a 48-52 final tally. That vote followed a failed attempt by Democrats to advance the election bills over the Senate's 60-vote filibuster threshold. All Republicans opposed it.
Sen. Manchin (D-W.Va.) had this to say:
"Allowing one party to exert complete control in the Senate with only a simple majority will only pour fuel on the fire of political whiplash and dysfunction that is tearing this nation apart," Manchin, D-W.Va., said Wednesday. "Contrary to what some have said, protecting the role of the minority — Democrat or Republican — has protected us from the volatile political swings that we have endured over the last 233 years."
This was an important victory, but the battle is not over. President Biden and his allies in the House and Senate remain determined to pass S.1 (the For the People Act); S. 2747 (the Freedom to Vote Act); and H.R. 4 (the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act). As we've shared previously, these bills would severely damage the integrity and security of our elections through unconstitutional mandates.
Please continue to watch, pray, and act. And as November's midterm elections approach, remember that your vote has consequences.