Lumis Claims 'CLARITY Act' Repeal... Democrats Deny

According to official Senate voting records, seven Democratic senators cast opposing votes on the Cloture vote for the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act on September 15. The bill's lead sponsor, Senator Cynthia Lumis (R-WY), had warned that failure in the first vote would mean 'we're done.' The Senate roll call vote No. 234 took place at 2:19 p.m. EDT on September 15, with only 49 votes for cloture—short of the required 60. Lumis had previously stated to reporters, 'I think we're done. It's over.' The following day, the same seven senators issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to advancing the bill's passage. This is not a new stance. Six of the seven senators and Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), who replaced Senator Gillibrand, had previously released nearly identical statements in July, criticizing an earlier Republican draft for lacking ethical and consumer protection measures but pledging continued negotiation to reach consensus. The pattern continues: opposing specific bill language while leaving room for future amendments. Republicans have criticized this approach, with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer accusing the group of reversing public positions, citing Senator Gillibrand's March remarks at a Digital Chamber panel about America leading the industry.