Senate fails to start debate on the Ratepayer Protection Act
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed H.R. 9340
SEP 30, 2026 · 12:51 PM ET
CLOTURE ONH.R. 9340Ratepayer Protection ActSEP 30, 2026 · 12:51 PM ET
FAILED
57–43
Party-line vote, except 4 Democrats who crossed. 3 votes short of the 60 needed.
A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →READ THIS RIGHT
A yes on cloture only ends debate on whether to take up the bill. A no is not a vote against the bill itself.
WHAT IS CLOTURE →45 DEM2 IND53 REP
YEANAYCROSSEDTAP A SEAT
WHAT WAS DECIDED
What the Senate was voting on
IN PLAIN WORDS
The Senate voted on whether to end debate on taking up H.R. 9340, a bill requiring state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider standards making large data-center customers pay the full cost of grid upgrades needed to serve them. Supporters fell 3 votes short of the 60 needed, so the Senate did not end debate on taking up the bill.
A YES MEANT
End debate on whether to take up H.R. 9340, so the Senate can move to it.
A NO MEANT
Keep debating whether to take up H.R. 9340; this is not a vote against the bill itself.
THE MEASURE · H.R. 9340
Ratepayer Protection Act
Sets a standard for charging large data and computing customers for grid upgrades built to serve them.
WHERE IT STANDS · WHAT’S NEXT
Passed the House 417–3 on Sept. 16, 2026. Now waiting in the Senate, 118 days after it was introduced.
SEP 30Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
WHY IT NEEDED 600 VACANT · 100 SWORN
60is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Cloture needs three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
60 is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Cloture needs three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- SINCE 1975
- Cloture on bills has needed three-fifths. Before that it took two-thirds of those voting.
- 2013, 2017
- Nominations dropped to a simple majority. Bills did not.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on cloture.
HOW EACH SIDE VOTED
Party line, with 4 Democrats crossing4 Democrats crossed. It wasn’t enough.
BY PARTYYEA–NAY
Democrats4 CROSSED TO YEA
RepublicansNONE CROSSED
IndependentsCAUCUS WITH DEMOCRATS
THE ARITHMETICCOUNTS ONLY
53
yeas without the 4 who crossed
57
yeas with them
+3
more had to switch from nay to reach 60
THE 4 WHO CROSSEDHOW OFTEN THEY VOTE WITH PARTY
Jon Ossoff
D-GA · VOTED YEA
97%
Raphael G. Warnock
D-GA · VOTED YEA
96%
Amy Klobuchar
D-MN · VOTED YEA
95%
Maggie Hassan
D-NH · VOTED YEA
88%
BY STATEONE BAR PER SENATOR
YEANAYA SENATOR CROSSEDYOUR STATE
3 SHORT
The closest a cloture vote has come to 60 since November 2025
4 CROSSED
The most Democrats to cross on a cloture vote since July
14TH
Party-line Senate vote in September
53
yeas without the 4
57
yeas with them
+3
needed for 60
THE 4 WHO CROSSED
3 SHORTThe closest a cloture vote has come to 60 since November 2025
4 CROSSEDThe most Democrats to cross on a cloture vote since July
14THParty-line Senate vote in September
THE FULL ROLL
All 100 senators, by stateAll 100 senators
100 SHOWNTAP A NAME FOR DETAILS
100 SHOWN
- Katie Boyd BrittR-ALYEA
- Tommy TubervilleR-ALYEA
- Lisa MurkowskiR-AKYEA
- Dan SullivanR-AKYEA
- Ruben GallegoD-AZNAY
- Mark KellyD-AZNAY
- John BoozmanR-ARYEA
- Tom CottonR-ARYEA
- Alex PadillaD-CANAY
- Adam B. SchiffD-CANAY
- Michael F. BennetD-CONAY
- John W. HickenlooperD-CONAY
- Richard BlumenthalD-CTNAY
- Christopher MurphyD-CTNAY
- Lisa Blunt RochesterD-DENAY
- Christopher A. CoonsD-DENAY
- Ashley MoodyR-FLYEA
- Rick ScottR-FLYEA
- Jon OssoffD-GAYEA
- Raphael G. WarnockD-GAYEA
- Mazie K. HironoD-HINAY
- Brian SchatzD-HINAY
- Mike CrapoR-IDYEA
- James E. RischR-IDYEA
- Tammy DuckworthD-ILNAY
- Richard J. DurbinD-ILNAY
- Jim BanksR-INYEA
- Todd YoungR-INYEA
- Joni ErnstR-IAYEA
- Chuck GrassleyR-IAYEA
- Roger MarshallR-KSYEA
- Jerry MoranR-KSYEA
- Mitch McConnellR-KYYEA
- Rand PaulR-KYYEA
- Bill CassidyR-LAYEA
- John KennedyR-LAYEA
- Susan M. CollinsR-MEYEA
- Angus S. King, Jr.I-MENAY
- Angela D. AlsobrooksD-MDNAY
- Chris Van HollenD-MDNAY
- Ed MarkeyD-MANAY
- Elizabeth WarrenD-MANAY
- Gary C. PetersD-MINAY
- Elissa SlotkinD-MINAY
- Amy KlobucharD-MNYEA
- Tina SmithD-MNNAY
- Cindy Hyde-SmithR-MSYEA
- Roger F. WickerR-MSYEA
- Josh HawleyR-MOYEA
- Eric SchmittR-MOYEA
- Steve DainesR-MTYEA
- Tim SheehyR-MTYEA
- Deb FischerR-NEYEA
- Pete RickettsR-NEYEA
- Catherine Cortez MastoD-NVNAY
- Jacky RosenD-NVNAY
- Maggie HassanD-NHYEA
- Jeanne ShaheenD-NHNAY
- Cory A. BookerD-NJNAY
- Andy KimD-NJNAY
- Martin HeinrichD-NMNAY
- Ben Ray LujánD-NMNAY
- Kirsten E. GillibrandD-NYNAY
- Chuck SchumerD-NYNAY
- Ted BuddR-NCYEA
- Thom TillisR-NCYEA
- Kevin CramerR-NDYEA
- John HoevenR-NDYEA
- Jon HustedR-OHYEA
- Bernie MorenoR-OHYEA
- Alan ArmstrongR-OKYEA
- James LankfordR-OKYEA
- Jeff MerkleyD-ORNAY
- Ron WydenD-ORNAY
- John FettermanD-PANAY
- David McCormickR-PAYEA
- Jack ReedD-RINAY
- Sheldon WhitehouseD-RINAY
- Darline GrahamR-SCYEA
- Tim ScottR-SCYEA
- Mike RoundsR-SDYEA
- John ThuneR-SDYEA
- Marsha BlackburnR-TNYEA
- Bill HagertyR-TNYEA
- John CornynR-TXYEA
- Ted CruzR-TXYEA
- John R. CurtisR-UTYEA
- Mike LeeR-UTYEA
- Bernie SandersI-VTNAY
- Peter WelchD-VTNAY
- Tim KaineD-VANAY
- Mark R. WarnerD-VANAY
- Maria CantwellD-WANAY
- Patty MurrayD-WANAY
- Shelley Moore CapitoR-WVYEA
- James C. JusticeR-WVYEA
- Tammy BaldwinD-WINAY
- Ron JohnsonR-WIYEA
- John BarrassoR-WYYEA
- Cynthia M. LummisR-WYYEA
THE JOURNEY
Every vote on H.R. 9340, in both chambersPassed the House. Stalled in the Senate.
CHAMBER CONTRASTThe House passed it 417–3 on Sept. 16, with both parties mostly voting yes. The Senate failed to end debate on it 57–43 on Sept. 30, 3 short of the 60 needed, with 4 Democrats voting yes.
SEP 30SENATE#254Cloture on the motion to proceedTHIS VOTEFAILED57–43
SEP 28SENATE—Cloture motion filedFILED
SEP 16HOUSE#312Suspend the rules and passPASSED417–3SEP 10HOUSE—Reported by Energy and CommerceREPORTED52–0
HOUSE · SEP 16
417–3
PASSED · NEEDED 280
Both parties mostly voted yes
SENATE · SEP 30
57–43
FAILED · NEEDED 60
4 Democrats voted yes
IN THE HOUSE · SEP 10 – 16PASSED 417–3
- SEP 10Reported by Energy and CommerceREPORTED52–0
- SEP 16#312Suspend the rules and passPASSED417–3Both parties mostly voted yes
SENT TO THE SENATE · 12 DAYS LATER
IN THE SENATE · SEP 28 – 30PENDING
- SEP 28Cloture motion filedFILED
- SEP 30#254THIS VOTECloture on the motion to proceedFAILED57–433 votes short of the 60 needed.
IN THE NEWS · 113 STORIESIN THE NEWS
Coverage of this vote and its bill113 stories from 80 outlets
+ 17 OUTLETS NOT RATED
- kttc.comSen. Klobuchar caps off tour of all Minnesota counties in Freeborn County - KTTC | Rochester, MN
- ThenationaldeskCENTERSenate's top party leaders point fingers after data center bill fails
- Colorado PolsLEFTHick Calls Gabe Evans' Bluff Over Performative "Ratepayer Protection Act"
- Colorado PoliticsCENTEREvans rips Dems for blocking data center bill foes say ‘has no teeth’
- Fox NewsRIGHTReporter's Notebook: A guide to the college sports vote and Senate’s Ohio showdown
- PolitifactCENTERJon Husted pushed for data centers and tax incentives in Ohio, as Sherrod Brown ads say
- Spartanburg Herald JournalCourtney McClain, William Timmons spar over healthcare, data centers
- PoliticoCENTERRick Scott's next policy push
- The VindicatorRIGHTNationwide moratorium pitched for data centers
- ArcaMaxCENTERWho would this independent caucus with? 'Everybody'
- NTDGuthrie Warns Against Ceding AI Lead to China; Schumer Pushes Guardrails, Chip Curbs
- PoliticoCENTERDemocrat blocks fast-track passage for data center ratepayer bill
- American GreatnessHouse Democrats Target Data Center Tax Breaks as Trump Pushes AI Expansion " American Greatness
- Washington ExaminerCENTERDaily on Energy: Data center bill sponsor responds to leftwing calls for a ban
- The HillCENTERCollins, Jackson duke it out in third Maine Senate debate: 3 takeaways
- Michigan AdvanceCENTERAging coal plants turn into a midterm fight over energy costs * Michigan Advance
- The Journal NewsLawler, Conley clash over data centers in NY-17 race. Where they stand
- wglt.orgCENTERAt Peoria debate, challenger Paul Nolley on the attack while longtime incumbent Darin LaHood touts record
- ForbesCENTERNancy Pelosi's Household Is Congress's Biggest Data Center Investor
- TIMECENTERExclusive: Senate Investigation Challenges Big Tech’s Case for AI Data Centers
- Crypto BriefingCENTERUS lawmakers propose new data center regulations amid AI energy demands
- Hindustan TimesCENTERWho is Roy Cooper? Career, policies, controversies and key views of former North Carolina governor running for Senate
- Daily Caller News FoundationRIGHTThe Issue Making Politicians Sweat As November Midterms Loom
- Conservative News TodayRIGHTThe issue making politicians sweat as November midterms loom
- San Bernardino SunPete Aguilar, CA-33 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
- San Bernardino SunJay Obernolte, CA-23 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
- BreitbartRIGHTExclusive — Bernie Moreno: Democrats Blocked Jon Husted’s Data Center Bill to Lower Electricity Costs, but Media Won’t Cover
- ReadingeagleElection 2026: The race to represent the 9th Congressional District
- Journal SentinelCENTERRon Johnson and Tammy Baldwin's very different week on health care
- Osceola News GazetteVoting Central Florida: Meet the U.S. Congressional District 9 Republican candidates
Lean describes the outlets, not the vote.
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