Michele Bachmann was among those who voted against the bill. 2014 GOP Senate contenders oppose VAWA

Eighty-seven House Republicans joined 199 Democrats in voting for the Violence Against Women Act Thursday, but a chunk of the 138 “no” votes came from potential 2014 GOP Senate candidates.

Among those who voted against the bill: Tom Cotton (Ark.), Steve King (Iowa), Bill Cassidy and John Fleming (La.), Justin Amash (Mich.), Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Kristi Noem (S.D.).


Six Republican members of Georgia’s delegation who might run statewide also opposed the measure: Paul Broun, Tom Price, Phil Gingrey, Jack Kingston, Austin Scott and Tim Graves.

Opponents mainly worry that the measure would deprive non-natives of due process when they are charged with abuse on tribal lands.

The bill, which cleared the Senate on a 78-22 vote earlier this month, will be signed by President Barack Obama.

Before passing the Senate version, the House voted on a Republican substitute bill that would reauthorize the portions that their members can get behind, including support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. It failed on a 166-257 vote, but many who voted against the final bill supported it so that they could say they backed a version of the act.

King, for example, noted that he voted in support of the House version.

“I supported VAWA in 2005, 2012, and today I voted in support of the House version to see that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have access to the resources and protection when they need it the most,” he said in a statement.

Democrats are unlikely next year to make the distinction King and others Republicans are using to justify their vote against the final compromise.