Candidates in this year’s presidential race denounced the Senate for acquitting President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE in the upper chamber’s impeachment vote Wednesday.

The impeachment trial came to a close this week after Senate Democrats were unable to garner enough votes to convict the president on two charges. The vote ended up falling mostly along partisan lines, with Sen. Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE (R-Utah) breaking from the GOP to convict the president on the abuse of power charge.

Some of the candidates took to Twitter to express their displeasure with the Senate’s decision.

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Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (D-Minn.), who voted Trump guilty of both charges, said it was a “somber day for our country.”

“History will remember that the majority in this body did not seek out the evidence and instead decided that the President’s actions did not even require a second look,” she wrote on Twitter.

It is a somber day for our country. As Senators, we are representatives of the American people and it's our duty to protect and defend the Constitution.



The President leveraged the power of his office for personal gain and the choice before us is clear.



No one is above the law. — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 5, 2020

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenNo new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Mass.), who also voted to convict Trump, said the Republicans voted to “protect” the president, even though he "exploits our government for his personal gain.” But the senator turned her attention to the future.

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“Now more than ever, we must choose courage and hope over fear,” she posted. “Now is our moment to fight back. We have defeated corruption before, and we will do it again."

Donald Trump pressured a foreign government to interfere in our election. He undermined our diplomatic relationships and put our national security at risk. He exploits our government for his personal gain—and Republicans just voted to protect him. — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 5, 2020

Tom Steyer Tom SteyerTV ads favored Biden 2-1 in past month Inslee calls Biden climate plan 'perfect for the moment' OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump administration finalizes plan to open up Alaska wildlife refuge to drilling | California finalizes fuel efficiency deal with five automakers, undercutting Trump | Democrats use vulnerable GOP senators to get rare win on environment MORE, billionaire philanthropist, said Trump’s acquittal signals that the Republican senators will not “magically negotiate in good faith and ‘meet in the middle.’”

“There is no "middle." There's right and wrong,” he said. “We all need to show up in 2020 if we're going to get the change we want.”

The vote to acquit Mr. Trump is a lesson for those who think the @SenateGOP will magically negotiate in good faith and “meet in the middle."



There is no "middle." There's right and wrong.



We all need to show up in 2020 if we're going to get the change we want. — Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) February 5, 2020

Meanwhile, Trump's GOP primary challenger Bill Weld William (Bill) WeldRalph Gants, chief justice of Massachusetts supreme court, dies at 65 The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden visits Kenosha | Trump's double-voting suggestion draws fire | Facebook clamps down on election ads Biden picks up endorsements from nearly 100 Republicans MORE, former governor of Massachusetts, said the acquittal was “to no one’s surprise,” but commended Romney for voting to convict Trump, saying the Utah senator showed “the courage we should expect from our US Senators.”

To no one’s surprise, the US Senate has voted to allow @realDonaldTrump to remain in office despite his clear abuses of power and of the Constitution. I suspect the American people, with their votes, will render a more principled judgement. — Gov. Bill Weld (@GovBillWeld) February 5, 2020

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Latest with the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations The Memo: 2020 is all about winning Florida The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support MORE called the Senate trial a “charade” and the vote a “disgrace,” before encouraging people to focus on the 2020 election.

“We must do in November what all but one of the Senate Republicans didn't have the courage to do: vote to remove a lawless, reckless president and turn the page on this dark chapter in the life of our country,” he wrote.

The trial was a charade, and the vote is a disgrace. I have no doubt that historians will ultimately convict this President, along with the Republicans who lack the courage to do it themselves. But we cannot wait for history to render its verdict – that is our job in November. — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 5, 2020

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Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE – who received the most number of delegates in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus Monday with 92 percent of the precincts reporting – also set his sights on the future election, saying the American people “will be the jury tomorrow.”

The Senate was the jury today, but we will be the jury tomorrow. The last word on Donald Trump and Trumpism will come through the American people—at ballot boxes across the country. — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 5, 2020

Updated: 9:45 p.m.