To table the nelson motion to reconsider the preceding vote.(motion failed)

On Jan 24, 1980, the Senate voted 30–50. Result: failed. By party: Democrats 26–19, Republicans 4–31. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 23 members voted against their own party.

During the 96th Congress (1979–1980), Jimmy Carter was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 30
No: 50
Did not vote: 21
Date: Jan 24, 1980

By party

Democrats26 yes · 19 no · 14 didn’t vote
Republicans4 yes · 31 no · 6 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Abraham Alexander Ribicoff D-CT voted no
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted yes
Joseph Robinette (Joe) Biden Jr. D-DE voted no
Lawton Mainor Chiles Jr. D-FL voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted no
Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. R-MD voted yes
Edmund Sixtus Muskie D-ME voted no
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted no
J. James Exon D-NE voted no
William Warren (Bill) Bradley D-NJ voted no
Daniel Patrick Moynihan D-NY voted no
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted yes
Howard Morton Metzenbaum D-OH voted no
John Herschel Glenn Jr. D-OH voted no
David Lyle Boren D-OK voted no
Claiborne de Borda Pell D-RI voted no
Ernest Frederick (Fritz) Hollings D-SC voted no
James Ralph Sasser D-TN voted no
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. D-TX voted no
Edwin Jacob (Jake) Garn R-UT voted yes
Patrick Joseph Leahy D-VT voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted no
Jennings Randolph D-WV voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

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Capitol Receipts, “To table the nelson motion to reconsider the…: Senate Vote, Jan 24…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/96-S-519/to-table-the-nelson-motion-to-reconsider-the-preceding (accessed 2026-10-16).