Senate

Senate votes to advance Trump’s nominee for Interior secretary

by Jordain Carney - 02/27/17 7:46 PM ET

The Senate is moving forward with Rep. Ryan Zinke’s nomination to be lead the Interior Department.

Zinke (R-Mont.) easily overcame the required simple majority Monday evening, with a final vote of 67-31. One senator voted present.

Unless Democrats agree to a deal to yield back part of the 30 hours of remaining debate time, they could delay a final vote on Zinke’s nomination until Wednesday.

Zinke is not considered a top target for Democrats, and his nomination easily passed through the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee after he picked up support from numerous Democrats.

{mosads}Democrat Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.) praised Zinke ahead of Monday’s initial vote for pledging to break with his party and oppose large-scale sales of federal lands.

“I feel confident that Congressman Zinke will handle issues before him with Montana common sense,” he said.

He added that there “are always some issues where Congressman Zinke and I don’t see eye to eye, but he has publicly committed to working with Congress to try to address some of the most important issues of this nation’s economy as it applies to our public lands.”

Zine was previously considered a top potential GOP challenger for Tester’s Senate seat. Tester is one of 10 Democrats up for reelection in 2018 in a state carried by President Trump.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reportedly asked Mike Pence, then vice president-elect, and White House chief of staff Reince Preibus to consider someone else for the Interior position so that Zinke could run against Tester.

Tags Jon Tester Mike Pence Mitch McConnell