Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) missed Senate votes Tuesday because he was in his home state campaigning for reelection.
Kentucky’s GOP primary is Tuesday and McConnell faces a Tea Party challenger.
{mosads}McConnell is expected to cruise to victory over businessman and Tea Party candidate Matt Bevin (R) although he was forced to spend millions in the process.
In the general election, McConnell will face Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D).
Six other states held their primary elections Tuesday including Georgia, Idaho and Oregon where establishment Republicans are also expected to beat their Tea Party challengers.
The Senate was voting Tuesday on executive and judicial nominees and is expected to continue this work for the rest of the week.
The Senate voted 97-0 Tuesday to confirm the nomination of Gregg Costa to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Senate also voted 62-35 to end debate on the nomination of Stanley Fischer to be a member of the Federal Reserve Board. Fischer’s confirmation will occur around 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
By voice-vote the Senate also confirmed three nominees to serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Dana Hyde will serve as chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Susan McCue will serve as a member of the board for three years and Mark Green will serve for two years.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent U.S. agency that provides foreign aid.