Senate Democrats are trying to pick up the pieces after Republicans were able to kill off an attempt to scrap President Trump's “Liberation Day” tariffs because of attendance issues, depriving them of a rare opportunity to make a dent in the GOP's trade efforts.

Democrats were on the verge of a second tariff-related win on the Senate floor in a matter of weeks, only to see those hopes scuttled due to absences. The episode has left some in the caucus lamenting a missed opportunity, especially at a time when the party has little leverage or ability to throw its weight around in the chamber.

“I’d prefer to win it,” Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said curtly.

Some Democrats are also pointing the finger at the leadership for mishandling the vote.

The party needed all of its members in town for the vote in order for it to pass, but Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) was in South Korea for a conference, putting them a vote down. Leadership knew about his trip for weeks ahead of time.

On top of Whitehouse’s travel, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who had voted in favor of a similar

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