Senate Democrats narrowly managed to advance Xavier Becerra’s nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services in a Thursday vote of 51-48 with support from Susan Collins, the only Republican to break from the party.
Collins, a centrist Republican from Maine, crossed party lines to vote in favor of the procedural vote to move Becerra’s nomination to the Senate floor, giving Democrats the single GOP vote they needed to clear the path to confirmation without help from Vice President Kamala Harris. Centrist Democrat Joe Manchin indicated earlier Thursday that he would lend his critical support for Becerra.
MANCHIN POISED TO DELIVER CRUCIAL SUPPORT FOR CONTROVERSIAL BECERRA NOMINATION
The Senate Finance Committee had deadlocked last week 14-14 along party lines on reporting Becerra’s nomination to the floor. Under Senate rules, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was tasked with bringing the nomination up for a procedural vote to break the stalemate.
Becerra, who currently serves as the California attorney general, has gained a reputation among the GOP as being a liberal culture warrior. In the role, Becerra has filed over 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration, including those aimed at strengthening Obamacare and strengthening the federal contraception coverage mandate in the case of religious groups.
Becerra has also advocated for accessibility of abortions, inciting fierce opposition from national anti-abortion organizations, such as Susan B. Anthony List. Members of the Senate GOP attacked Becerra’s record on abortion rights and religious freedom rules Thursday during floor debates ahead of the procedural vote.
ANTI-ABORTION MOVEMENT RALLIES AGAINST BIDEN PICK TO LEAD HHS
“His greatest hits from his job keep coming back to haunt him, and as much as his allies here in the Senate tried to spin his record, they just can’t seem to convince people that he is fit to lead,” Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn said before the vote on Thursday.