Senate advances Carson’s nomination to lead HUD

The Senate on Wednesday voted to advance Ben Carson’s nomination to be secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The final vote tally was 62-37, with 10 Democrats joining all Republicans to support Carson. He needed a simple majority to be approved.

Absent a deal, a final vote on his nomination could take place on Thursday morning if Democrats drag out the remaining 30 hours of debate time. 

Carson isn’t considered a top target for Democrats and wasn’t included on a list of eight nominees who they were expected to oppose.

{mosads}But his nomination has divided top lawmakers.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) came out against Carson, and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters that he had objections to his nomination.

But liberal Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) supported his nomination during the committee vote. However, Warren voted against cloture for Carson on Wednesday.

Warren had defended her vote for Carson in committee, amid backlash from outside liberal groups. 

“Yes, he is not the nominee I wanted. But ‘the nominee I wanted’ is not the test,” she wrote in a Facebook post at the time.

The Senate Banking Committee approved Carson in late January.