JEFFERSON CITY — U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner on Tuesday was the only Republican in Missouri’s House delegation to vote in favor of protecting same-sex and interracial marriages.
Wagner, who represents the redrawn 2nd Congressional District covering much of ºüÀêÊÓƵ County, was one of 47 Republicans to break with the majority of the GOP caucus to support the bill.
Arthur Bryant, spokesman for Wagner, said he wouldn’t be able to comment on Wagner’s vote Wednesday.
The measure was approved on a 267-157 vote, with all “no†votes coming from Republicans.
Wary of political fallout, GOP leaders did not press their members to hold the party line against the bill, aides said.
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The vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, a 50-year-old precedent establishing the right to an abortion.
The Roe decision had no equivalent in federal law, so when it was reversed, the abortion issue was left to the states.
Republican opponents of , insisted the court was only focused on abortion access in June when it struck down Roe v. Wade, and they argued that same-sex marriage and other rights were not threatened.
Almost none of the Republicans who rose to speak during the debate Tuesday directly broached the subject of same-sex or interracial marriage.
The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal a law from the Clinton era that defines marriage as a heterogeneous relationship between a man and a woman.
It would also provide additional legal protections by prohibiting any state from denying out-of-state marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.
Missouri voters outlawed same-sex marriages in the state constitution in 2004.
The Supreme Court in 2015 legalized same-sex marriages nationwide on a 5-4 vote in Obergefell v. Hodges.
But last month, writing for the majority in overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Samuel Alito argued for a more narrow interpretation of the rights guaranteed to Americans, noting that the right to an abortion was not spelled out in the Constitution.
In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas went further, saying other rulings similar to Roe, including those around same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception, should be reconsidered.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said over the weekend the Supreme Court’s decision protecting marriage equality was “clearly wrong†and state legislatures should visit the issue.
The Respect for Marriage Act now heads to the U.S. Senate, where it was unclear whether a vote would take place. The chamber is split equally between Republicans and Democrats.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell didn’t express an opinion on the legislation on Tuesday.
So far, the legislation has just two Senate Republican co-sponsors, Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman of Ohio. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are among others closely watched for possible support.
In all, 10 Republican senators would need to join with all Democrats to reach the 60 vote threshold to overcome a GOP filibuster.
Public opinion on same-sex marriages has shifted dramatically over the last quarter-century, according to Gallup polling.
In 1996, only 27% of Americans supported same-sex marriage.
In a May poll, for same-sex marriages, with approval hitting 71%.
A majority of Republicans became mostly supportive of same-sex marriage last year, Gallup said.
Wagner faces three Republican opponents in the Aug. 2 primary: Tony Salvatore of Wildwood, Wesley Smith of Affton and Paul Berry III of Maryland Heights.
Democrats running include state Rep. Trish Gunby, D-ºüÀêÊÓƵ County, and Ray Reed of Richmond Heights.
Libertarian Bill Slantz is also running.
Wagner’s 2nd District had been seen as fertile ground for Democrats over the last two election cycles as more suburban voters strayed from the GOP.
But it is unclear whether the trend will persist into the 2022 midterms, as President Joe Biden’s .
In any case, legislative Republicans in the Missouri Capitol shored up the 2nd District for the GOP this year by stretching the district west to cover heavily Republican Franklin County and southern Warren County.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Updated at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 20.