Both Parties Stuck Together on 2019’s Biggest Votes in Congress

Extraordinary party unity defined both chambers of Congress in 2019.

As an expanded Republican Senate majority moved to reshape the judiciary, it resisted the legislation House Democratic leaders churned out with broad caucus backing.

Senate Republicans’ two-seat net gain in the 2018 elections, to 53 from 51, gave Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) more breathing room to advance President Donald Trump’s nominees. In the 115th Congress (2017-18), Republican leaders needed Vice President Mike Pence to break 13 tie votes. In 2019, Pence didn’t cast any tie-breaking votes.

Of the 428 floor votes the Senate took last year, 320, or 75%, ...