How many republicans voted against the big beautiful bill The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” often referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” was a landmark piece of legislation in 2025, championed by President Donald Trump. How many republicans voted against the big beautiful bill This sweeping budget reconciliation bill aimed to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, increase funding for border security and defense, and introduce significant cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
How many republicans voted against the big beautiful bill However, it faced opposition from both Democrats and a small but notable group of Republicans. In this article, we’ll explore how many Republicans voted against the Big Beautiful Bill, why they opposed it, and the broader implications of their votes.
What Was the Big Beautiful Bill?
The Big Beautiful Bill, officially known as H.R.1 in the 119th Congress, was a comprehensive legislative package passed through the budget reconciliation process to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster requirement. Key provisions included:
- Permanent Extension of 2017 Tax Cuts: Making individual and corporate tax cuts from Trump’s first term permanent, costing an estimated $4 trillion over a decade.
- New Tax Breaks: Temporary deductions for tips (up to $25,000), overtime pay (up to $12,500), and auto loan interest for U.S.-assembled cars, expiring in 2028.
- Increased SALT Deduction: Raising the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000 for households earning up to $500,000, a win for Republicans in high-tax states.
- Spending Increases: Allocating $150 billion for defense and $175 billion for immigration and border enforcement.
- Cuts to Social Programs: Reducing Medicaid and SNAP funding, including new work requirements, projected to leave 11.8 million Americans without health insurance by 2034.
- Debt Ceiling Increase: Raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, despite adding $3.3 trillion to the national deficit over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
The bill passed the House on May 22, 2025, with a razor-thin 215-214 vote and the Senate on July 1, 2025, with a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Despite Republican majorities in both chambers, some GOP members broke ranks, reflecting deep intra-party divides.
How many republicans voted against the big beautiful bill
In the House of Representatives, the Big Beautiful Bill faced significant resistance from a small group of Republicans. The initial vote on May 22, 2025, saw the following GOP members voting against or abstaining:
- Thomas Massie (Kentucky): A vocal fiscal conservative, Massie opposed the bill due to its rushed process and lack of transparency. He criticized the use of a “manager’s amendment” that altered the bill without sufficient review time, violating House rules requiring 72 hours to read legislation. Massie also expressed concerns about the bill’s impact on the national deficit.
- Warren Davidson (Ohio): Initially a “no” vote due to fiscal concerns, Davidson later flipped to support the bill after Senate revisions increased the SALT deduction and deepened Medicaid cuts, addressing some of his priorities.
- Andy Harris (Maryland): As chair of the House Freedom Caucus, Harris voted “present,” signaling unease with the bill’s cost and scope but stopping short of outright opposition.
- Two Republicans Missed the Vote: Two unnamed GOP members did not vote, contributing to the tight margin.
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Thus, two House Republicans (Massie and Davidson) voted against the bill, with one voting “present” and two abstaining, out of 220 Republicans in the House.
On July 3, 2025, as the House prepared to vote on the Senate-amended version, posts on X reported four Republicans voting against the bill:
- Victoria Spartz (Indiana)
- Keith Self (Texas)
- Andrew Clyde (Georgia)
- Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania)
These reports indicate a shift in opposition, with Spartz, Self, Clyde, and Fitzpatrick emerging as dissenters, likely due to concerns over the Senate’s changes, such as deeper Medicaid cuts or the deficit increase. However, these X posts are inconclusive without official vote records, as the House vote was ongoing as of July 3, 2025, and faced delays due to travel issues and vote-whipping efforts.
Republicans Who Voted Against the Bill in the Senate
How many republicans voted against the big beautiful bill In the Senate, the bill passed on July 1, 2025, with a 51-50 vote, but three Republicans joined all 47 Democrats and independents in voting against it:
- Susan Collins (Maine): Collins opposed the bill due to its steep Medicaid cuts, which she argued would harm low-income families and rural healthcare providers in Maine, where 400,000 residents rely on Medicaid. Despite a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals added to win her support, Collins found it insufficient to offset the cuts’ impact.
- Thom Tillis (North Carolina): Tillis cited Medicaid reductions as his primary reason for opposition, arguing that the cuts broke Trump’s campaign promise not to remove people from the program. Facing threats from Trump to back a primary challenger, Tillis announced he would not seek re-election in 2026.
- Rand Paul (Kentucky): A staunch fiscal hawk, Paul voted against the bill due to its $5 trillion debt ceiling increase and projected $3.3 trillion deficit growth. He offered to support the bill if it included a 90% debt ceiling reduction, a proposal rejected by GOP leadership.
Thus, three Senate Republicans (Collins, Tillis, and Paul) voted against the Big Beautiful Bill, highlighting concerns over Medicaid cuts and fiscal responsibility.
Why Did Republicans Oppose the Bill?
Republican opposition stemmed from diverse concerns, reflecting the party’s ideological spectrum:
- Fiscal Conservatives: Lawmakers like Massie, Paul, and initially Spartz and Clyde opposed the bill’s contribution to the national deficit, estimated at $3.3 trillion over a decade by the CBO. They criticized the $5 trillion debt ceiling increase and questioned the bill’s long-term fiscal sustainability.
- Medicaid and Social Program Cuts: Moderates like Collins and Tillis worried about the human toll of reducing Medicaid and SNAP, with CBO estimates suggesting 11.8 million Americans could lose health coverage by 2034. These cuts were particularly contentious in states with vulnerable populations.
- Process and Transparency: Massie and others decried the rushed legislative process, including last-minute amendments and insufficient time to review the 900-page bill, which some argued violated House rules.
- Regional Interests: Blue-state Republicans, initially hesitant, secured a higher SALT deduction cap ($40,000), but some, like Fitzpatrick, may have opposed the Senate’s temporary cap reinstatement after 2028.
High-profile figures like Elon Musk also influenced opposition. Musk, initially a Trump ally, called the bill a “disgusting abomination” and threatened to back challengers against Republicans who supported it, emboldening fiscal conservatives like Paul and Spartz.
Implications of Republican Opposition
The small but significant Republican opposition underscores deep divisions within the GOP, particularly between fiscal hawks, moderates, and Trump loyalists. The narrow House vote (215-214) and Senate’s tie-breaking vote highlight the fragility of Republican unity, especially with a slim House majority (220-212) and a 53-47 Senate majority. Key implications include:
- 2026 Midterm Risks: Dissenters like Collins and Tillis face potential primary challenges, with Trump threatening to back opponents. Tillis’s retirement announcement reflects the political cost of opposing Trump’s agenda.
- Legislative Challenges: The bill’s reliance on reconciliation to avoid a filibuster limited GOP losses to three votes in the Senate and four in the House. Future legislation may face similar hurdles if intra-party divides persist.
- Public Perception: Democrats have seized on the bill’s Medicaid and SNAP cuts, labeling it a “tax scam” for the wealthy, which could shape voter sentiment in 2026. Republicans counter that the bill delivers on Trump’s “America First” promises, including tax relief and border security.
What’s Next for the Big Beautiful Bill?
As of July 3, 2025, the Senate-amended bill awaits a final House vote, with GOP leaders racing to meet Trump’s July 4 deadline. House Speaker Mike Johnson remains optimistic, citing “forward momentum” after flipping holdouts like Warren Davidson. However, opposition from Spartz, Self, Clyde, and Fitzpatrick, combined with procedural delays, suggests the bill’s fate remains uncertain. If passed, Trump has vowed to sign it swiftly, cementing a major legislative victory.
Conclusion
In the House, two Republicans (Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson) initially voted against the Big Beautiful Bill on May 22, 2025, with Andy Harris voting “present” and two others abstaining. Later reports suggest four Republicans (Victoria Spartz, Keith Self, Andrew Clyde, and Brian Fitzpatrick) opposed the Senate-amended version, though this awaits confirmation. In the Senate, three Republicans (Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul) voted against the bill on July 1, 2025, citing Medicaid cuts, deficit concerns, and procedural issues. These defections highlight the GOP’s challenge in balancing fiscal conservatism, moderate concerns, and Trump’s ambitious agenda, setting the stage for a contentious final House vote.
For the latest updates on the Big Beautiful Bill and its impact, stay tuned to reliable news sources or check official congressional records on Congress.gov.