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Two of the people, who were granted anonymity to share private details, said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) was poised to sign on if Grijalva did — a move that would have given the petition the numbers needed to advance. But Democrats privately argue that Lawler only wants to attach his name to the effort if he can be the 218th and decisive supporter, allowing him to claim credit as a pro-union Republican.

A spokesperson for Jeffries, Christie Stephenson, said Democrats intend to force a vote on the bill in the coming weeks.

“If Congressman Lawler was as concerned about these working people as he apparently is about his own reelection, he would have signed the discharge petition last night, or any time in the over 160 days since it launched,” Stephenson said. “We also look forward to him signing on as a co-sponsor of the historically bipartisan Protecting the Right to Organize Act given his sincere concern for collective bargaining rights in this country.”