The Senate on Wednesday blocked Lauren McFerran’s renomination to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), opening the door for Republican control of the board starting next year under President-elect Trump. 

Senators voted 49 to 50 against a five-year term for McFerran, the NLRB’s chair, with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) voting with almost every Senate Republican to block it. 

Sen. Roger Marshall (Kan.) was the lone Republican who did not vote. 

Reconfirming McFerran would have locked in a Democratic advantage on the NLRB. Her term is up next week. 

“It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

Short of multiple absences on the GOP side, Democrats needed either Manchin or Sinema to vote with them, along with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Harris, to get McFerran across the finish line.

Including McFerran, the board sits at three Democrats and one Republican, with one GOP vacancy. 

Trump and Republicans will now have the ability to confirm two nominees to the board, giving them a one-seat advantage at that time. 

The news will have major repercussions for big business and labor unions, as the board has a major say in settling disputes between those two parties. 

Updated at 2:41 p.m.