A number of Democrats switched sides and voted against the petitions. While only nine senators are Republicans, 17 voted against Cambridge's plan.

"It's not a very enjoyable thought, Travaglini admitted after the votes.

But the Democratic leader said he will try to lobby Weld to sign the home-rule petitions. "We're going to make every attempt to do so, but obviously we have an uphill fight ahead of us."

"The decision is the governor's," said Cambridge City Councillor Kathleen L. Born, one of six councillors who supported the city's petition.

"It astounded me, the depth of the opposition not only from the Republican leadership but from Democrats from across the state," Born said. "I was diernayed."

She said the city council will lobby Weld to sign the petitions. "This will not be a veto of which Governor Weld will feel proud on the national scene," Born added. "I would hope that Governor Weld has a heart."

Weld, a Cambridge resident, was re-elected last month to a second four year term.

The Republican governor has said any petition to preserve rent control would counteract the will of the state's voters. Question 9 was passed by a 51 to 49 percent margin on Election Day