WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats voted unanimously to block a Republican-led bill Monday evening that would prohibit federally funded schools from allowing transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.

In a party-line vote of 51-45, Democrats filibustered the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, introduced by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. It fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance as Democrats dismissed it as a distraction and a cynical political move.

Four senators didn’t vote: Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; and Peter Welch, D-Vt.

The outcome means the legislation — which passed the House in January and mirrors an executive order issued by President Donald Trump — won’t go any further. But the failed vote is likely to become a political talking point for Republicans in upcoming elections after they used the issue of transgender rights as a cudgel in the 2024 campaign.

“Sen. Tuberville is trying to churn the social wars about something that really doesn’t exist,” Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said after he voted to block the bill. Hickenlooper has announced he will run for re-election in 2026 and, despite his vote, said he does not believe transgender women should be able to compete in women’s sports if the other women object.

“I saw the ads,” Hickenlooper said of the election in 2024, when Trump highlighted the issue. “I think that’s the kind of ad that works once. I don’t think it’ll work again. It’s an infinitesimally small group of people that are really trying to find their ways.”

A New York Times/Ipsos poll conducted in January found broad opposition to transgender athletes in asking respondents whether “transgender female athletes — meaning athletes who were male at birth but who currently identify as female” — should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. In response, 79% of American adults said they “should not” be allowed, while 18% said they “should be allowed.”

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who won his race last fall even as Trump carried Arizona at the presidential level, acknowledged that it is “a hard issue for a lot of people.”

But he said Democrats who have an effective overall message shouldn’t worry.

“Look, if you’re running and you don’t have any other identity and you’re not known for fighting for people to have a decent living, to buy a home, to be able to bring the American dream to their families, these outside fringe issues are what is going to bring you down,” Gallego said. “I’m not worried about that, because I communicate with my fellow Arizonans every day that I’m fighting for them to make sure that they get to live the American dream no matter what.”

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who has announced he isn’t running for re-election next year, said Democrats need to focus on the economy.

“This is not really an issue like in Michigan,” Peters said, “I think there are hundreds of thousands of athletes, there’s like two individuals that are actually in this situation. People are going to realize that it’s really been an issue that Republicans have trying to exploit.”

Asked whether he’s concerned such a vote could come up in future election cycles, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who has broken with Democrats on some issues, replied: “Watch my vote, and then you can extrapolate whether I’m worried about that s— or not.” 

Shortly afterward, Fetterman voted no.

Among Republicans, opposing transgender athletes in women’s sports is a cultural issue that unifies all wings of the party.

“I just think this is a matter of fairness, safety and giving girls and young women the opportunity to excel in sports,” said centrist Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who faces re-election next year. “And again, let me emphasize that I think we should treat all people respectfully, but Title IX is the law, it’s not just a suggestion, and it was intended to open these opportunities to girls to excel in sports.”

Tuberville condemned Democrats for blocking the bill.