Senator Murray Statement on Voting Rights

ICYMI: Senator Murray Pushes to Pass Strong Voting Rights Protections on Senate Floor – MORE HERE

***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S FLOOR SPEECH HERE***

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement in response to the Senate’s failed vote to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

“The question before every Senator tonight was whether democracy should come before Senate procedure. I voted to protect the right to vote over protecting the filibuster. I’m as frustrated as anyone about this outcome because I understand it’s our democracy at stake here, but tonight’s outcome doesn’t mean we give up. At a moment when our country faces more challenges than almost any time I can remember, I will continue to work with all of my colleagues on every issue that matters to Washington state families, including protecting the right to vote in America.”

Earlier today, Senator Murray spoke on the Senate floor, urging her colleagues to pass strong voting rights protections. During her floor speech, Senator Murray discussed the national, coordinated effort by Republican-led state legislatures to pass more and more restrictive voter suppression laws; Senator Murray also underscored former President Trump’s ongoing and public efforts promoting outright election subversion. Senator Murray urged her colleagues to vote to protect voting rights over any single Senate procedure. A long-time member of the Senate, Murray also emphasized that changes to Senate procedure would help Democrats and Republicans work together to debate and legislate on issues affecting Americans across the country and how abuse of the filibuster has led to more polarization and gridlock.

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