Moderate Democrat and GOP Senators Call for Bipartisanship to Reauthorize the Voting Rights Act

Moderate Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who often work together on legislative issues, are appealing to congressional leaders to reauthorize a version of the Voting Rights Act that is most likely to get bipartisan support.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) speak as they arrive to vote in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 23, 2021. Al Drago/Getty Images

Moderate Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who often work together on legislative issues, are appealing to congressional leaders to reauthorize a version of the Voting Rights Act that is most likely to get bipartisan support.

Manchin and Murkowski, like-minded on many legislative issues, sent a letter (pdf) on Monday to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saying that voting rights should not be allowed to become a partisan issue.