The state Senate rejected Gov. Dannel Malloy's pick for chief justice of the state Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Gov. Malloy refused to pull Justice Andrew McDonald's nomination, despite being met with opposition. All 18 Republicans voted 'no' along with one Democrat.

McDonald released a statement saying, "To Gov. Malloy and to the legislators who voted for me – including one particularly courageous and brave one – I want to thank you for your support, encouragement and confidence.  I will never forget any of it."

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Republicans, many of whom served with McDonald, insisted they were concerned about his liberal rulings and not about him being gay.

"We don't want an activist chief justice driving this branch of government," said Sen. John Kissel.

Gov. Malloy responded to the vote by saying, "I am deeply disappointed and gravely concerned with the antics and shameful charade put on today by Sen. Fasano and his caucus. It is now an undeniable fact that Andrew McDonald has been treated differently than others who came before him."

McDonald would have become the nation's first openly gay chief justice of a state Supreme Court if his nomination had not been rejected.