This week, Senate Democrats joined the Republican majority to confirm three avowed deniers of climate science into Donald Trump’s cabinet — Ryan Zinke for Interior, Ben Carson for Housing and Urban Development, and Rick Perry for Energy. Zinke was confirmed on Wednesday, and Carson and Perry confirmed on Thursday. Democrats chose not to use the 30 hours of debate time following the Perry cloture vote, instead allowing his confirmation to occur immediately after.
Seventeen members of the Democratic caucus voted for Ryan Zinke; 11 voted for cloture on Carson; and 12 voted for cloture or confirmation on Perry. In all, 22 Democrats voted at least once with Republicans for these nominees.
Angus King (Maine) is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
Democrats for Zinke
- Michael Bennet (Colo.)
- Sherrod Brown (Ohio)
- Chris Coons (Del.)
- Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.)
- Joe Donnelly (Ind.)
- Martin Heinrich (N.M.)
- Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.)
- Tim Kaine (Va.)
- Angus King (Maine)
- Joe Manchin (W.Va.)
- Claire McCaskill (Mo.)
- Chris Murphy (Conn.)
- Bill Nelson (Fla.)
- Jon Tester (Mont.)
- Tom Udall (N.M.)
- Mark Warner (Va.)
- Ron Wyden (Ore.) – voted present for cloture, for confirmation
Democrats for Carson
- Sherrod Brown (Ohio)
- Ben Cardin (Md.) – voted for cloture, against confirmation
- Tom Carper (Del.) – voted for cloture, against confirmation
- Joe Donnelly (Ind.)
- Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.)
- Joe Manchin (W.V.)
- Bob Menendez (N.J.) – voted for cloture, against confirmation
- Jack Reed (R.I.) – voted for cloture, against confirmation
- Jon Tester (Mont.)
- Mark Warner (Va.)
- Angus King (Maine)
Democrats for Perry
- Ben Cardin (Md.) – voted for cloture, against confirmation
- Tom Carper (Del.) – voted against cloture, for confirmation
- Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.)
- Joe Donnelly (Ind.)
- Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.)
- Angus King (Maine)
- Joe Manchin (W.Va.)
- Tom Udall (N.M.)
- Claire McCaskill (Mo.)
- Debbie Stabenow (Mich.)
- Jon Tester (Mont.)
- Mark Warner (Va.)