Sen. Lisa Murkowski is putting her power as a moderate lawmaker to the test early in the new Trump era by announcing she’ll vote no on one of his most controversial cabinet nominees, Pete Hegseth.
An hour after Murkowski’s announcement, Sen. Susan Collins posted on X that she would also not support Hegseth, Trump’s embattled pick for defense secretary. In a 51-49 vote, the Senate advanced Hegseth’s nomination Thursday. His final confirmation vote is scheduled to be held on Friday. Both Collins and Murkowski voted against moving ahead with his nomination.
Hegseth can only afford to lose three Republican votes, and Murkowski’s announcement Thursday that she’ll oppose him puts pressure on other Republicans to tread carefully. It also serves as a check of her influence in the conference.
Several of her Republican colleagues immediately brushed aside her vote.
Trending
“I don’t think it’s noteworthy,” Sen. Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, told NOTUS when asked about Murkowski’s decision. “She’s entitled to her view and to her vote.”
Though there’s been some acknowledgment that his vote will be close.
“I think his nomination would succeed, but who knows, there may be another ‘no’ vote or two,” Sen. Josh Hawley said, going on to reference Wicker’s judgment on Hegseth’s vote. “Wicker, who is on the committee and obviously has an interest in getting this right — earlier this morning he seemed pretty calm.”
“I think it’ll be close. I think it’ll be very close. But our majority isn’t very big,” Hawley said.
Democrats, however, took notice of Murkowski’s decision.
“I think it’s a very courageous act by Sen. Murkowski and I think others will notice it,” Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, told NOTUS. “It’s always the toughest to be the first to make the move, but she did. She’s a remarkably talented and gifted lady.”
While several of Trump’s picks have been pushed through with bipartisan support — like former senator Marco Rubio, who is now the secretary of state, and the new director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe — Hegseth’s path forward was always going to be politically fraught.
Hegseth has faced close scrutiny for past conduct. A slate of reports have revealed a sexual assault allegation in 2017 (he was never charged and denies wrongdoing) and allegations of alcohol abuse (he has denied having a substance abuse issue and promised not to drink if confirmed to the role). Most recently, senators reviewed an affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law alleging his conduct caused his ex-wife to fear for her safety.
Hegseth was the first defense secretary nominee in at least four administrations to be voted out of committee on party lines. He’s not expected to get any support from Democrats, and will now lose at least two Republicans as well.
“After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support [Hegseth’s] nomination for Secretary of Defense,” Murkowski said in her statement.
Murkowski cited concerns, including Hegseth’s prior management experience, as well as his past statements about women in combat and “the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join.”
Still, Republicans have been lining up in support of Hegseth, including at a recent hearing where Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who has been a major ally, accused his Senate colleagues of voting drunk and cheating on their partners.
Just hours before Murkowski’s public announcement of her vote, Sen. Joni Ernst, seen as a crucial vote of support on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, said those same allegations weren’t something she was concerned about.
“Nobody ever talks about what the ex-wife has said,” Ernst said of the most recent allegations against Hegseth, which included the signed affidavit from his former sister-in-law. “She is saying that it did not happen, and I think we should listen to her.”
It’s at odds with Murkowski’s position.
“While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces,” Murkowski said in her statement.
Wicker didn’t pay any mind to the statement.
“Lisa Murkowski is a good Republican who votes with the majority 98% of the time,” he said. “She’s not our 2% enemy. She’s our 98% friend.”
—
John T. Seward and Em Luetkemeyer are NOTUS reporters and Allbritton Journalism Institute fellows.
Authors
