To confirm the nomination of raymond j. Donovan, of new jersey, to be the secretary of labor. (motion passed)

On Feb 3, 1981, the Senate voted 80–17. Result: passed. By party: Republicans 52–0, Democrats 27–17, Independents 1–0. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted yes. 17 members voted against their own party.

During the 97th Congress (1981–1982), Ronald Reagan was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Yes: 80
No: 17
Did not vote: 4
Date: Feb 3, 1981

By party

Republicans52 yes · 0 no · 2 didn’t vote
Democrats27 yes · 17 no · 2 didn’t vote
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Dennis Webster Deconcini D-AZ voted no
Gary Warren Hart D-CO voted no
Christopher John Dodd D-CT voted no
Lawton Mainor Chiles Jr. D-FL voted no
Samuel Augustus Nunn D-GA voted no
Walter Darlington Huddleston D-KY voted no
Edward Moore (Ted) Kennedy D-MA voted no
Paul Efthemios Tsongas D-MA voted no
Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. D-MI voted no
Thomas Francis Eagleton D-MO voted no
Max Sieben Baucus D-MT voted no
Howard Morton Metzenbaum D-OH voted no
Claiborne de Borda Pell D-RI voted no
Ernest Frederick (Fritz) Hollings D-SC voted no
Patrick Joseph Leahy D-VT voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted no
Robert Carlyle Byrd D-WV voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To confirm the nomination of raymond j…: Senate Vote, Feb 3, 1981,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/97-S-19/to-confirm-the-nomination-of-raymond-j-donovan-of (accessed 2026-10-17).