Raven Payne
Salam Morcos
Democrats and Republicans in Congress voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to confirm Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao with a 93 – 6 vote. Chao became the fifth Trump nominee to be confirmed by the Senate.
Democratic leaders, who vowed to “resist” Trump’s administration and fight him in every step of the way, are nowhere to be found. 15 members of Congress, representing a quarter of the Democratic caucus, led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mark Warner (D-CA), sided with the Republicans and approved each of the five Trump nominees so far.
Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) also ripped Trump’s proposed administration two weeks ago, saying that President Trump “is setting up a ‘swamp cabinet.‘” He further stated:
Now, I know with a swamp Cabinet — bankers, billionaires, more wealth, more potential conflicts of interest, more positions way far over from what the American people want — I know why our Republican colleagues want to rush these nominees through. But let me reiterate: They will have tremendous power over the lives of average Americans.
Schumer’s votes, nevertheless, show that the Sen. Schumer may not mind Trump’s swamp cabinet after all! The Democratic leader has already approved four of the five nominees so far, with Chao being the only exception.
While we don’t endorse the idea of “blind opposition” for the sake of political theater, as explained in this op-ed, it’s still shocking that a significant number of Democrats are falling in line and confirming every candidate Trump nominated. Most shocking is the fact that these Democrats voted to approve the nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo for Director of CIA, who supports reinstating the collection of bulk metadata and calls for “a fundamental upgrade to America’s surveillance capabilities” on citizens. It’s worth noting that Republican Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted against Pompeo.
Only seven members of the “Resistance Party” are resisting Trump’s cabinet. Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) is leading the pack rejecting four of Trump’s nominees. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Tom Udall (D-NM) rejected three of Trump’s nominees.
The table below shows how each member of Congress voted to confirm Trump’s nominees:
| Party | Senator | Vote | Seat Up | Secretary Of Defense | Secretary Of Homeland Security | Central Intelligence Agency Director | Ambassador To The United Nations | Secretary Of Transportation |
| James Mattis | John Kelly | Mike Pompeo | Nikki Haley | Elaine Chao | ||||
| 98 – 1 | 88 – 11 | 66 – 32 | 96 – 4 | 93 – 6 | ||||
| Democrats / Independents | ||||||||
| Democratic | Tim Kaine (D-VA) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Joe Donnelly (D-IN) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Maggie Hassan (D-NH) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Joe Manchin (D-WV) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill (D-MO) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Jack Reed (D-RI) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Brian Schatz (D-HI) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Mark Warner (D-VA) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | Angus King (I-ME) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Chris Murphy (D-CT) | 4 – 0 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | NA | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Chuck Schumer (D-NY) | 4 – 1 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Democratic | Sherrod Brown (D-OH) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Michael Bennet (D-CO) | 4 – 1 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Maria Cantwell (D-WA) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (D-MD) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Tom Carper (D-DE) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) | 4 – 1 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Dick Durbin (D-IL) | 4 – 1 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Al Franken (D-MN) | 4 – 1 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Mazie Hirono (D-HI) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Patrick Leahy (D-VT) | 4 – 1 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Ed Markey (D-MA) | 4 – 1 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Bob Menendez (D-NJ) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Patty Murray (D-WA) | 4 – 1 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Bill Nelson (D-FL) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Gary Peters (D-MI) | 4 – 1 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Jon Tester (D-MT) | 4 – 1 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) | 3 – 1 – 1 | 2022 | Yes | No | NA | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Chris Coons (D-DE) | 3 – 2 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Democratic | Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) | 3 – 2 | 2022 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Kamala Harris (D-CA) | 3 – 2 | 2022 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) | 3 – 2 | 2022 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Democratic | Ron Wyden (D-OR) | 3 – 2 | 2022 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | Bernie Sanders (I-VT) | 2 – 3 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Democratic | Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) | 2 – 3 | 2018 | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Democratic | Jeff Merkley (D-OR) | 2 – 3 | 2020 | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Democratic | Cory Booker (D-NJ) | 2 – 3 | 2020 | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich (D-NM) | 2 – 3 | 2018 | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Democratic | Tom Udall (D-NM) | 2 – 3 | 2020 | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Democratic | Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) | 1 – 4 | 2018 | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Republicans | ||||||||
| Republican | Rand Paul (R-KY) | 4 – 1 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Mitch McConnell (R-KY) | 4 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Present |
| Republican | Lamar Alexander (R-TN) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | John Barrasso (R-WY) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Roy Blunt (R-MO) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | John Boozman (R-AR) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Richard Burr (R-NC) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Bill Cassidy (R-LA) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Thad Cochran (R-MS) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Susan Collins (R-ME) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Bob Corker (R-TN) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | John Cornyn (R-TX) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Tom Cotton (R-AR) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Mike Crapo (R-ID) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Ted Cruz (R-TX) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Steve Daines (R-MT) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Mike Enzi (R-WY) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Joni Ernst (R-IA) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Deb Fischer (R-NE) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Jeff Flake (R-AZ) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Cory Gardner (R-CO) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Chuck Grassley (R-IA) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Orrin Hatch (R-UT) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Dean Heller (R-NV) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | John Hoeven (R-ND) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Jim Inhofe (R-OK) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Johnny Isakson (R-GA) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Ron Johnson (R-WI) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | James Lankford (R-OK) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Mike Lee (R-UT) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | John McCain (R-AZ) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Jerry Moran (R-KS) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | John N. Kennedy (R-LA) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | David Perdue (R-GA) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Rob Portman (R-OH) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Jim Risch (R-ID) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Pat Roberts (R-KS) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Mike Rounds (R-SD) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Marco Rubio (R-FL) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Ben Sasse (R-NE) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Tim Scott (R-SC) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Jeff Sessions (R-AL) | 3 – 0 – 2 | 2020 | NA | NA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Richard Shelby (R-AL) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Dan Sullivan (R-AK) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | John Thune (R-SD) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Thom Tillis (R-NC) | 5 – 0 | 2020 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Pat Toomey (R-PA) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Roger Wicker (R-MS) | 5 – 0 | 2018 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Republican | Todd Young (R-IN) | 5 – 0 | 2022 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
