Maine Sen. Susan Collins is among three Republicans who voted in favor of a Democratic-backed measure aimed at dealing with the U.S. Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision.
Collins, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mark Kirk of Illinois, voted in favor of the measure, which fell four votes short of the 60 needed to move forward, according to The Associated Press. The final vote was 56 - 43.
The bill would reverse the court's ruling last month that allowed "closely held" businesses whose owners have religious objections to deny women contraceptive coverage.
The bill was backed by all Democrats, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, of Nevada, voted against it, a procedural maneuver that allows him to bring the measure up again for another vote closer to the election.
Collins is being challenged for her Senate seat by Democrat Shenna Bellows, who has spoken out against the Hobby Lobby decision, saying contraception decisions should be left to women, not their bosses or the government.