There are several Republicans on the committee who have uncertain views on Gabbard, and only one would need to vote “no” to stall her nomination.
Normally, a nominee would have to pass through committee before reaching a floor vote, but committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) could elect to force her through. It’s unknown whether Cotton would support an effort to do so, even though he does back Gabbard.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said while there are “creative ways” to get Gabbard out of committee, he doesn’t prefer to use them. “But obviously, ideally, you want to see a nominee that’s coming out of committee with an affirmative vote,” he told Semafor.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee pushed Mick Mulvaney’s nomination to be Trump’s director of the OMB through in 2017 despite having no recommendation from the committee. He would later pass a confirmation vote 51-49.
The lack of favorable recommendation from the committee will likely do nothing to sway those who remain doubtful on Gabbard, namely Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY). All three voted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s nomination, forcing Vice President JD Vance to break the tie in the Senate.
Given the Senate Republican uncertainty, Gabbard may need Vance’s help as well.
Their skepticism originates from Gabbard’s past positive sentiments on Russia, her meeting with former Syrian leader Bashar Assad, and her skepticism of intelligence programs within the United States, positions that could raise red flags among establishment Republicans. Gabbard, a former Democrat, has alienated both parties at different points but now has her most ardent defenders within MAGA.
Hard-line conservatives like Charlie Kirk, Elon Musk, and former DNC official-turned-MAGA influencer Lindy Li have backed Gabbard’s credentials.
“Gabbard is indisputably qualified,” Kirk wrote in an op-ed endorsing the choice. “She is a veteran of the Iraq War, the worst of the wars that the intel agencies blundered us into. She spent eight years in Congress and served stints on the homeland security, armed services, and foreign affairs committees, all of them relevant to the job. She has authentic bipartisan credentials: She represented the Democrats in Congress, is the choice of a MAGA president, and has the personal endorsement of Meghan McCain (a Republican with whom I have no shortage of differences).”
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Gabbard’s Senate intelligence hearing will be on Thursday, and Cotton assures the public it will be a “full hearing.”
“I can promise you and all Americans that Tulsi Gabbard is going to have a full hearing on Thursday,” Cotton told Fox News. “It’s going to be just like the hearing that we conducted for [new CIA Director] John Ratcliffe and the hearings that the committee has conducted for nominees from both the Democratic and Republican presidents alike — no more, no less, no better, no worse.”
