Senate Democrats failed to break a Republican filibuster against legislation that would lay the groundwork for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
With only 57 supporters, the vote fell three Senators short of the 60 needed to move forward.
The legislation’s failure follows a string of negotiations with Senate moderates. The latest setback signals that it may not be passed in the closing days of the lame duck session.
An attempt to bring the legislation to the floor this August failed as well, with Democratic Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) withholding their support.