Maryland’s Republican senators knew they didn’t have the votes to block a resolution that would give Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) more power to sue the federal government.

So they tried for a delay.

When the motion failed, nine of the 14 Republicans stormed out in protest — a rare sign of unrest in a majority Democratic chamber where longtime Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) emphasizes civility and decorum.

“I’m done,” said an exasperated J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County), the minority leader.

He and other Republicans said that passage of the resolution, known as the Maryland Defense Act, was not urgent and that requests for delays are typically granted as a matter of course.

Maryland Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County), left, pictured with Sen. Stephen Hershey (R). (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Miller’s refusal to do so, they said, is the latest sign the partisan rancor commonly found in Congress is creeping toward the State House in Annapolis as Democrats take steps to combat President Trump (R) on health care, immigration and the environment.

“They argue they hate Washington politics, but they won’t give us a simple courtesy,” Jennings said later. “It’s just like Washington.”

The Defense Act stems from a provision in the Maryland Constitution that requires the attorney general to obtain permission from the General Assembly or the governor to file certain cases. It would essentially give Frosh blanket authority from the legislature to challenge the federal government on any legal issue.

Miller said he wanted to deal with the bill quickly, in part because he knew it was divisive. He also said he wants Frosh to be ready to stand up to any attempt to undo regulations that could harm the Chesapeake Bay.

“We’ve made great progress,” Miller said. “I want that progress not to be stymied or set back, and I want somebody to protect the rights of myself and the citizens who care about the environment in the federal courts.”

At the beginning of Thursday’s legislative session, the Republican senators asked for a one-day delay.

Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery) argued that the legislature needed to move swiftly because Frosh’s hands were tied to respond to actions that could be taken on the federal level. He said attorneys general in 41 other states already have the authority that the resolution would give Frosh.

Miller agreed to move the vote to the end of the day’s brief calendar, which meant it was back on the floor in less than 20 minutes.

Jennings again asked for more time. His request was denied, and the resolution passed 28 to 18. The Senate will vote again on the measure Friday before it heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The growing divide between Democratic and Republican lawmakers was also visible Tuesday on the House side, where Del. Patrick L. McDonough (R-Baltimore County) announced a bill that would allow Marylanders to sue elected officials in state courts to stop policies they believe provide safe havens for undocumented immigrants.

Such policies, McDonough said, violate federal immigration law and harm legal residents by taking away jobs, increasing the cost of public benefits and creating public-safety risks.

“In this state, this is a Disneyland for illegal immigrants,” McDonough, one of the state’s most conservative lawmakers, told reporters.

“All the politicians are pro-illegal immigrant. We have no recourse. We can’t go to our elected officials. They’re all against us. We have to go to court to prove they’re wrong.”

He was joined by Lewis Evans, who runs a staffing agency in Baltimore and accused construction contractors of favoring undocumented immigrants for low-skilled work over the U.S. citizens he employs.

Evans said he plans to file a class-action lawsuit against the Baltimore City government, seeking to end what he described as sanctuary policies in the city.

McDonough acknowledged that his legislation has little chance of advancing in the Democratic-majority legislature. But he said the measure would still have an impact, particularly because it would align with efforts by Trump and the U.S. Justice Department to crack down on illegal immigration.