Sen. Markwayne Mullin's Cabinet nomination advanced to the Senate floor Thursday despite opposition from Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Why it matters: The 8-7 committee vote puts Mullin an important step closer to being confirmed to succeed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary when Noem steps down at the end of the month.
- Paul voted "no, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voted in favor.
- Otherwise, the vote split along party lines.
State of play: The vote followed a vitriolic hearing on Wednesday that opened with Paul challenging Mullin to "tell me to my face" why Paul deserved an assault that left him with broken ribs.
- "You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me the assault was justified," Paul said, referring to comments Mullin made at a town hall, where he also called Paul a "freakin' snake."
- "And while you're at it, explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues," Paul added.
- Democrats also expressed concerns about whether Mullin was temperamentally suited to the job, as well as questioning his experience.
Zoom in: Mullin's hearing also shed little light on how to end the DHS shutdown, now in its second month.
- Democrats remain dug in on demands for statutory changes to ICE and Border Patrol.
- And, as Axios' Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam report, Mullin's testimony didn't alter that dynamic.
- "I don't think his nomination increases the likelihood of a compromise, because he stood pretty firm against the kinds of reforms that Americans are demanding," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), told Axios.
Yes, but: Mullin still likely has the votes to be confirmed.
What we're watching: It's unusual for a Cabinet nominee to advance to a floor vote without support from the chairman of the committee of jurisdiction.
- If Paul ultimately votes against Mullin on the floor, he would be the only senator in modern history to oppose a fellow senator nominated by a president of his own party.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
