The Senate rejected a GOP push to increase defense spending Thursday despite a last-ditch effort to pressure Democrats into supporting the measure.

Senators voted 56-42 to move forward with a proposal from Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day McConnell urges GOP senators to 'keep your powder dry' on Supreme Court vacancy McSally says current Senate should vote on Trump nominee MORE (R-Ariz.) to increase defense funding by $18 billion. Sixty votes were needed to move ahead; 11 GOP senators voted against McCain's amendment.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE (R-S.C.) tore into Democrats ahead of the vote, saying if they didn't support McCain’s amendment, they should go to their home states and “explain to those who are busting their ass to fight this war” why they voted against it.

“You're going to vote no because you're worried about budget caps. Oh, we love the military,” he added. “Well, your love doesn't help them. Your love doesn't buy a damn thing.”

But Democrats had been signaling for days they wouldn’t support McCain’s amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) unless Republicans backed a proposal from Sen. Jack Reed John (Jack) Francis ReedWhen 'Buy American' and common sense collide Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-R.I.) to increase nondefense spending.

Reed’s amendment would also have paved the way for $1.9 billion to fight the expected Zika virus outbreak, as well as a boost in Middle Eastern security spending. But Republicans voted down Reed’s amendment Thursday. Democratic Sens. Tom Carper Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperDemocrat asks for probe of EPA's use of politically appointed lawyers Overnight Energy: Study links coronavirus mortality to air pollution exposure | Low-income, minority households pay more for utilities: report OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium MORE (Del.), Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Gardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' Barrett seen as a front-runner for Trump Supreme Court pick MORE (W.Va.) and Jon Tester Jonathan (Jon) TesterPence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans Filibuster fight looms if Democrats retake Senate MORE (Mont.) voted against Reed's amendment.

Democrats argue increasing defense spending without an equal increase in nondefense spending violates a two-year budget deal agreed to last year.

Minority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidGraham signals support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee this year Trump signals he will move to replace Ginsburg 'without delay' Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden MORE (D-Nev.) dug in ahead of the vote, putting Republicans “on notice” that passing McCain’s amendment would jeopardize other appropriations bills.

“If Republicans pass this amendment of Sen. McCain, they’ll have a broken budget agreement and they’ll grind the defense appropriations bill to a halt,” he said.

But Republicans argue the Pentagon currently faces an “emergency” that should supersede current budget deals and calls to increase defense and nondefense spending equally.

They note the military is being asked to do more — including pivot to the Asia-Pacific, fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and push back against a resurgent Russia — with less money.

“Looks like one thing we could agree on, libertarians, vegetarian, Republicans and Democrats that those who are fighting this war deserve better than we're giving them,” Graham said.

McCain added that if Democrats voted against his amendment “the consequences will be on your conscience.”

But McCain also faced pressure from the right to find a way to pay for any increase in defense spending.

The conservative Heritage Foundation noted that while McCain’s amendment would help bolster the military, that money “must be offset by spending cuts.”

But Graham — while saying the group has some good ideas — fired back at the group Thursday, saying, “Heritage Action is not going to go over to Afghanistan, Iraq, or Syria or Libya to protect this country.”