Here's How MN Republicans Voted On The 'Respect For Marriage' Act

MINNESOTA — Forty-seven U.S. House Republicans crossed the aisle Tuesday to support same-sex and interracial marriage, including one notable Minnesota Republican.

Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Emmer of Minnesota voted with the Democrats to pass the "Respect for Marriage Act."

Minnesota's two other Republican representatives, Pete Stauber and Michelle Fischbach, voted against the measure.

Democrats said the measure was necessary after the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade earlier this summer. The June decision in the case that reversed Roe — Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — was one of the few times in history the Supreme Court has invalidated an earlier decision declaring a constitutional right.

The ruling sparked fears among Democrats that other landmark cases, including the 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage, could fall next.

In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas argued that because the Constitution's Due Process Clause doesn't guarantee the right to an abortion, it doesn't guarantee other substantive rights, either.

Just over 20 percent of the GOP caucus supported the Respect for Marriage Act, which passed 267-157 on a roll call vote.

A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate. Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin were joined by Sen. Susan Collins in sponsoring the Senate version of the Respect for Marriage Act.

The legislation codifying the rights to same-sex and interracial marriage repeals the 1990s-era Defense of Marriage Act. The Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional in two cases, Windsor v. United States, and the Obergefell v. Hodges decision protecting same-sex marriage.

Among the key provisions of the legislation is that it repeals the unenforceable Defense of Marriage Act that allowed states to refuse to recognize valid civil marriages of same-sex couples.

The House Democratic caucus voted unanimously in support of the Respect for Marriage Act. Republicans who joined them are:

California: Reps. Ken Calvert, Mike Garcia, Jay Obernolte, Darrell Issa and David Valadao.

Florida: Reps. Kat Cammack, Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, Brian Mast, Maria Elvira Salazar and Michael Waltz.

Idaho: Rep. Mike Simpson.

Illinois: Reps. Rodney Davis and Adam Kinzinger.

Iowa: Reps. Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Michigan: Reps. Peter Meijer and Fred Upton.

Minnesota: Rep. Tom Emmer.

Missouri: Rep. Ann Wagner.

Nebraska: Rep. Don Bacon.

New Jersey: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

New York: Reps. Andrew Garbarino, Chris Jacobs, John Katko, Nicole Malliotakis, Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin.

North Dakota: Rep. Kelly Armstrong.

Ohio: Reps. Mike Carey, Anthony Gonzalez, David Joyce and Mike Turner.

Oregon: Rep Cliff Bentz.

Pennsylvania: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Dan Meuser and Scott Perry.

South Carolina: Reps. Nancy Mace and Tom Rice.

Texas: Rep. Tony Gonzales.

Utah: Reps. John Curtis, Blake Moore, Burgess Owens and Chris Stewart.

Washington: Rep. Dan Newhouse.

Wisconsin: Rep. Bryan Steil.

Wyoming: Rep. Liz Cheney

Five of the GOP House members who supported the bill — Gonzalez, Kinzinger, Katko, Upton and Jacobs — are not seeking reelection this year. Davis and Rice lost their primaries for re-election, and Zeldin is running for New York.