Elaine Chao, President Trump’s nominee as transportation secretary and wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., received 93 votes for confirmation earlier today.
McConnell voted “present.” The six “no” votes all came from Democrats. The other nominees still awaiting a final Senate vote (Betsy DeVos, Scott Pruitt, Andy Puzder, Rex Tillerson, etc.) are likely to draw many more “no” votes than Chao did. But her nomination, and the votes on the other less controversial ones, help give you some idea of who has bigger political ambitions.
One of the “no” votes on Chao came from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. He won’t be running for president, but he is reportedly fearful of how his party’s progressive base could undermine him in his current position, much like the Tea Party undermined congressional Republicans in years past.
Another “no” vote on Chao came from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. His age might rule him out for another presidential run, but you never know.
The other four “no” votes appear to be part of a competition among more recently elected Democrats who are looking for a higher national profile. Within the progressive base of the Democratic Party, it is likely that Democrats who seek the presidency in 2020 — at least the ones in the Senate — will be judged very harshly for any Trump nominees they vote to support.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has so far voted against more Trump nominees than anyone else — her sole “yes” vote was for Nikki Haley to become United Nations Ambassador. Gillibrand’s percent no record might help her make up for her reputation as a moderate. The occupant of Hillary Clinton’s old Senate seat, she is reportedly already talking to Hillary Clinton’s donors about a presidential run.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is widely discussed as the potential bearer of the progressive mantle in 2020. She voted against Chao, perhaps still smarting after her participation in a unanimous committee vote for Ben Carson caused her so much grief.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who stood behind the first row of Senate desks for about 15 minutes before casting the last “no” vote, would like to compete for that same left-wing base.
Finally, there’s also Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. He is not exactly a household name, but as the only sitting senator to endorse Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primaries, he has received some very favorable coverage in the left-wing press, praise from left-wing activist groups, and mentions as a potential vice presidential choice for Hillary Clinton.
Merkley, who defeated Sen. Gordon Smith, R, in 2008, hasn’t exactly made a huge splash since arriving in Washington. But he’s been taking an unusually high profile recently. Yesterday, he was front-and-center promising to filibuster Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, no matter who it is.
