Merrick Brian Garland, of Maryland, to be Attorney General

On Mar 9, 2021, the Senate voted 70–29 on “On the Cloture Motion” (PN 787). Result: Cloture Motion Agreed to. By party: Republicans 20–29, Democrats 48–0, Independents 2–0. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 20 members voted against their own party.

During the 117th Congress (2021–2022), Joe Biden was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Result: Cloture Motion Agreed to
Yes: 70
No: 29
Did not vote: 3
Date: Mar 9, 2021

By party

Republicans20 yes · 29 no · 2 didn’t vote
Democrats48 yes · 0 no · 1 didn’t vote
Independents2 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Lisa Murkowski R-AK voted yes
Charles Ernest Grassley R-IA voted yes
Joni Ernst R-IA voted yes
Jerry Moran R-KS voted yes
Addison Mitchell (Mitch) Mcconnell R-KY voted yes
Bill Cassidy R-LA voted yes
Susan Margaret Collins R-ME voted yes
Roy Blunt R-MO voted yes
Richard M. Burr R-NC voted yes
Thomas Roland (Thom) Tillis R-NC voted yes
Robert Jones (Rob) Portman R-OH voted yes
James Lankford R-OK voted yes
James Mountain Inhofe R-OK voted yes
Lindsey O. Graham R-SC voted yes
John Thune R-SD voted yes
Marion Michael (Mike) Rounds R-SD voted yes
John Cornyn R-TX voted yes
Willard Mitt (Mitt) Romney R-UT voted yes
Ron Johnson R-WI voted yes
Shelley Moore Capito R-WV voted yes

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, “Merrick Brian Garland, of Maryland, to be…: Senate Vote, Mar 9, 2021,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/117-S-112/merrick-brian-garland-of-maryland-to-be-attorney-general (accessed 2026-10-17).