WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner gave his first hint on where he stands on his chamber’s initiative to undo the Affordable Care Act, voting yes Tuesday on a procedural vote that passed after going down to the wire.

“I voted to allow debate today because we can no longer subject Coloradans to a failing healthcare system without working toward solutions, and today’s vote will allow that debate to continue,” Gardner said in a statement released shortly after the vote. “We can now offer amendments in an open setting to fix our nation’s healthcare system and bring relief to the American people.”

Even a few hours earlier, Gardner aides said the Colorado Republican still hadn’t decided whether he would back it — an approach that tracks with Gardner’s weekslong avoidance of a definitive position.

His Democratic counterpart from Colorado, U.S. Michael Bennet, voted no.

The procedural vote passed 51 to 50, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the deciding vote.

.@SenJohnMcCain enters the Senate chamber for the first time since being diagnosed with brain cancer pic.twitter.com/Vw08aQVRXE — POLITICO (@politico) July 25, 2017

While the vote wasn’t for final passage, and only would allow the Senate to proceed to debate on the legislation, its passage was critical to GOP efforts to pass health care legislation.

On what exactly was still unknown hours beforehand.

Senate Republicans can now move forward on a few options, including a straight repeal of the Affordable Care Act, some version of the health care bill that Republicans have debated for weeks or a new plan to undo parts of the ACA, also known as Obamacare.

Gardner previously criticized the lack of public hearings, but it’s unclear what he has done or said behind closed doors to compel his colleagues to hold them. As chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, he is a member of Senate GOP leadership.

Following the vote, Bennet released a statement saying the decision by Senate Republicans was “shameful.”

Just before the vote was cast, protesters broke out in a loud chant, screaming: “Kill the bill! Don’t kill us!”

President Donald Trump lauded the health care vote, saying he is “extremely happy.”