Status: Waiting for data …
| Representative | Total | Democrats | Republicans | Independents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 100 | 45 | 53 | 2 |
Note: Confirmation requires a simple majority of voting senators. Vice President JD Vance can vote in the case of a tie.
Votes Needed to Pass
All 47 Democrats and independents are expected to vote no, so Pete Hegseth can afford to lose only three Republicans to win the simple majority needed for confirmation (with Vice President JD Vance as the tie-breaking vote). Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have said they will not support him. If Mr. Hegseth succeeds, the vote could be the smallest margin for any confirmed defense secretary.
What to Know
The nomination of Mr. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has generated controversy amid accusations of excessive drinking and sexual assault. He has denied the accusations, dismissing them as part of a smear campaign in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. On Tuesday, an ex-sister-in-law of Mr. Hegseth submitted a sworn statement to senators accusing him of being “abusive” toward his second wife.
Most Republicans have embraced the nomination of Mr. Hegseth, who was a staunch supporter of President Trump during his first term.
