The Senate vote for the $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan sailed through the Senate 70-29, but exposed a stark generational divide among Republicans.

While 22 Republicans voted with most Democrats to pass the measure, a larger number of 26 Republicans voted no. It would be easy to chalk this up to a hawk vs. non-interventionist divide, but that explanation doesn’t hold much water. The “nos” included the likes of Senators Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Lindsey Graham. All of them have been supportive of providing more assistance to Ukraine and Israel and to countering China. And none of them would have their foreign policy views confused with Senator Rand Paul.

But after looking at the roll call, I did a bit of an analysis of the age gap in the voting and here’s what I found: The average age of Republican senators voting for the aid package was 69, while the average age of those voting against it was 58. That’s an 11-year gap.

To break down the numbers a bit more: among Republicans over age 65, the “yeas” had a two-to-one advantage (16-8), but below 65, the “nays” had it by a three-to-one margin (18-6). All three Republicans aged 80 or older voted in favor of the package, while all six Republicans under 50 voted no.

What to make of this? Republicans who voted “no” consistently argued that they could not vote for foreign aid when the Biden administration was refusing to secure the border, and argued that the border deal that had been negotiated was worse than merely inadequate. Cotton also flagged the $19 billion in non-military aid in the bill, including budget support for the Ukrainian government and aid to Gaza – for which he expressed skepticism there would be enough guardrails to prevent the assistance from benefitting Hamas.

The idea of “no Ukraine aid without securing the border” has become a popular position among the Republican base, and those who are younger and seek longer careers are more worried about being on the other side of this issue, which also would happen to be on the other side of Donald Trump. So, even if you don’t have Senator J.D. Vance’s ideological objection to helping Ukraine, sending them $61 billion is a tough vote, without being able to argue that you’ve won over real concessions. 

Beyond the substantive issue, I think the generational gap can be explained by the fact that the younger generation is more resentful of the idea of falling in line with whatever Senator Mitch McConnell and the rest of leadership is supporting. Being seen as in league with the establishment, or what the “swamp” wants, is deadly in the modern Republican party. As older Republicans make way for a younger crop of politicians, the Senate is going to be a lot different place.