Did any Republicans vote against the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Asked by: Keaton Hammes  |  Last update: June 27, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (75 votes)

A higher percentage of Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 than Democrats, although a minority of Republicans did vote against it. The legislation passed with bipartisan support, largely driven by Republican leadership in the Senate, overcoming a filibuster led by Southern Democrats.

How many Republicans voted against the Civil Rights Act?

In the 1964 Civil Rights Act final vote, 6 Senate Republicans (18% of the party) and 34 House Republicans (roughly 20% of the party) voted against the legislation. While a minority of Republicans opposed it, a higher percentage of Democrats voted against the act, particularly those from the South.

Who voted against the civil rights bill of 1964?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was opposed primarily by a coalition of Southern Democrats and a minority of Republicans, totaling 27 votes against in the Senate and 130 in the House. The opposition was largely driven by Southern senators who held a 72-day filibuster against the bill.

Did any Democrat vote for the Civil Rights Act?

Yes, a majority of Democrats voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, although the vote was heavily split along regional lines. The legislation passed with bipartisan support, driven by Northern Democrats and Republicans, while being primarily opposed by Southern Democrats.

Which political party supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed with bipartisan support, though it passed primarily through a coalition of Northern Democrats and a high percentage of Republicans, overcoming strong opposition from Southern Democrats. Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson played a key role in passing the bill.

Did Republicans Support The Civil Rights Act Of 1964? - Black History Files

29 related questions found

Who overturned the Civil Rights Act?

The Supreme Court, in an 8–1 decision, declared sections of the act unconstitutional in the Civil Rights Cases on October 15, 1883.

Did Democrats filibuster to block the Civil Rights Act?

Yes, a group of Southern Democrats, known as the "Dixiecrats," led a 75-day filibuster to block the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The filibuster, which lasted from March to June 1964, was part of a larger, long-term effort by Southern segregationists to prevent federal civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Who tried to stop the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

A coalition of 18 Southern Democratic senators and one Republican, led by Senator Richard Russell (D-GA), tried to stop the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by conducting a 60-day filibuster. Key figures included Senators Strom Thurmond, Robert Byrd, Sam Ervin, and William Fulbright. The filibuster was broken on June 10, 1964, by a cloture vote.

How many Democrats voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1957?

Legislative breakdown

6127 was brought to a floor vote in the chamber of the US House on June 18, 1957. The Republican Party voted 167 in favor, 19 against. The Democratic Party voted 119 in favor, 107 against.

Who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 according to the yes and no votes shown in the table?

Based on the voting tables typically presented for this question, the group that overwhelmingly opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was residents of Southern states.

How did Republicans vote in the Civil Rights Act?

Republicans voted 136 in favor, 35 against, 2 present, 5 not voting. Democrats voted 153 in favor, 91 against, 2 present, 12 not voting.

Which group opposed the Civil Rights Act?

Since southern Democrats opposed the legislation, votes from a substantial number of senators in the Republican minority would be needed to end the filibuster. Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey, the Democratic whip who managed the bill on the Senate floor, enlisted the aid of Republican Minority Leader Everett M.

How did Republicans get the Civil Rights Act passed?

The Senate filibuster was overcome through the floor leadership of Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, the considerable support of President Lyndon Johnson, and the efforts of Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen of Illinois, who convinced enough Republicans to support the bill over Democratic opposition.

Were Republicans in favor of the civil rights movement?

A higher percentage of the Republicans and Democrats outside the South supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as they had on all previous Civil Rights legislation.

Did Strom Thurmond go to the bathroom during his filibuster?

Goldwater asked Thurmond to yield the floor to him for a few minutes, and Thurmond was able to use the restroom while Goldwater made an insertion to the Congressional Record. An aide had prepared a bucket in the Senate cloakroom for Thurmond to relieve himself if the need arose, but Thurmond did not end up using it.

Is Charlie Kirk against the Civil Rights Act?

His more controversial positions included criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as promotion of COVID-19 misinformation, false allegations of electoral fraud in 2020, and the white genocide conspiracy theory.