U.S. Democratic senators have blocked a bill that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks, ensuring that the procedure stays legal through the later terms of a woman's pregnancy.
Republican leaders in the Senate knew the bill had little chance to pass, but wanted to pressure Democrats to take a stance on abortion, particularly vulnerable Democrats facing re-election and from states that voted for President Donald Trump.
The vote largely fell along party lines, with only two Republicans voting against. Three Democrats voted for the measure. All three are from states that voted for Trump in the 2016 election.
More than half of the Senate's Democrats and independents are up for re-election this year, and 10 of them are in states Trump won
