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Did Ron Johnson vote against the Respect for Marriage Act?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
YES

On Nov. 16, 2022 Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin voted against a procedural motion to advance the Respect for Marriage Act — a bill that would codify same-sex marriage equality nationwide.

"The Respect for Marriage Act is unnecessary," Johnson said in a statement, asserting the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage is "settled law and has no chance of being overturned." 

Johnson also said the bill in its current form — authored by Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin — "did not provide sufficient protection for those with strongly held religious beliefs."

Twelve Senate Republicans voted for the measure, advancing it to a final vote.

In July, the U.S. House passed the measure, with Wisconsin Democrats Mark Pocan, Ron Kind and Gwen Moore and Republican Bryan Steil voting yes, and Wisconsin Republicans Scott Fitzgerald, Mike Gallagher, Glenn Grothman and Tom Tiffany voting no.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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