Politics

Here's how Alaska's senators are voting on Trump nominees

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has begun confirming President Donald Trump's cabinet and other nominees. Bookmark this page to keep track of how Alaska's two Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan — have voted on appointments on the floor.

There are 690 presidential appointments that require Senate confirmation, and about 4,000 political appointments the Trump administration needs to fill. At the start of February, Trump had offered 35 nominations.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, the "non-voting" member is Sen. Jeff Sessions R-Alabama, nominee for Attorney General. Independent Sens. Bernie Sanders and Angus King are counted among Democrats, with whom they caucus. Click on the link in the "vote" line to see details on how every member voted.

James Mattis, Defense
Confirmed Jan. 20, 2017
vote: 98-1 (1 non-voting)  (Yea- 51 Rs, 47 Ds; Nay – 1 D)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

John Kelly, Homeland Security
Confirmed Jan. 20, 2017
vote: 88-11 (1 nonvoting) (Yea – 51 Rs, 37 Ds; Nay – 11 Ds)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Mike Pompeo, Central Intelligence Agency
Confirmed Jan. 23, 2017
vote: 66-32 (2 non-voting)  (Yea – 51 Rs, 15 Ds; Nay – 31 Ds, 1 R; NV – 2 Ds)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Nikki Haley, Ambassador to the United Nations
Confirmed Jan. 24, 2017
vote: 96-4  (Yea – 52 Rs, 44 Ds; Nay – 4 Ds)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

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Elaine Chao, Transportation
Confirmed Jan. 31, 2017
vote: 93-6 (1 present)  (Yea – 52 Rs, 42 Ds; Nay – 6 Ds; Present – 1 R)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Rex Tillerson, State
Confirmed Feb. 1, 2017
vote: 55-43 (2 non-voting)  (Yea – 51 Rs; 4 Ds; Nay – 43 Ds; NV – 1 R, 1 D)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Betsy DeVos, Education
Confirmed Feb. 7, 2017
vote: 51-50 (tiebreaker – Vice President Mike Pence) (Yea – 50 Rs; Nay – 48 Ds, 2 Rs)
Murkowski – No
Sullivan – Yes

[Murkowski announces opposition to Trump nominee for education secretary]

[As promised, Alaska Sen. Murkowski votes against DeVos for education secretary]

Sen. Jeff Sessions, Attorney General
Confirmed Feb. 8, 2017
vote: 52-47 (1 present) (Yea – 51 Rs, 1 D; Nay – 47 Ds; Present – Sessions)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

After voting to confirm Sessions, Sullivan lauded the new Attorney General as "an outstanding public servant" and "a man of integrity and principle… I look forward to working with him in reestablishing constitutional principles that have deteriorated under the former Administration," he said.

Rep. Tom Price, Health and Human Services
Confirmed Feb. 10, 2017
vote: 52-47 (1 not voting) (Yea – 52 Rs; Nay – 47 Ds; NV – McCaskill)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Murkowski said she had "confidence" in Price's skills and work ethic, and appreciated his backgrounds in Congress and medicine. "I look forward to working with Dr. Price to address the burdens imposed on Alaskans due to the failures of the Affordable Care Act," she said, citing his interest in allowing states to "make decisions about their own insurance marketplaces." Murkowski noted that "there is room for improvement in terms of his understanding of how Alaska's tribal entities provide care," but said he "expressed interest in learning more about these needs. "

Steve Mnuchin, Treasury
Confirmed Feb. 13, 2017
vote: 53-47 (Yea – 52 Rs, 1 D; Nay – 47Ds)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

David Shulkin, Veterans Affairs
Confirmed Feb. 13, 2017
vote: 100-0 (Yea – 52 Rs, 48 Ds)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Linda McMahon, Small Business Administration
Confirmed Feb. 14, 2017
vote: 81-19 (Yea – 52 Rs, 29 Ds; Nay- 19 Ds)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Mick Mulvaney, Office of Management and Budget
Confirmed Feb. 16, 2017
vote: 51-49 (Yea – 51 R; Nay- 48 Ds, 1 R)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Scott Pruitt, Environmental Protection Agency
Confirmed Feb. 17, 2017
vote: 52-46 (Yea – 50 Rs, 2 Ds; Nay- 45 Ds, 1 R; No Vote – 1 R, 1 D)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

[Sullivan says Democrats are throwing a 'temper tantrum' in delaying EPA nominee vote] 

Wilbur Ross, Commerce
Confirmed Feb. 27, 2017
vote: 72-27, 1 not voting (Yea – 51 Rs, 21 Ds; Nay- 27 Ds; No Vote – 1 R)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Sullivan, after voting to confirm Ross, said: "In meetings with Mr. Ross, and through his confirmation process, I have been impressed with his knowledge of many issues important to Alaska – including trade, infrastructure and the need to reform our regulatory system – as well as his own business experience in our state."

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Rep. Ryan Zinke, Interior
Confirmed March 1, 2017
vote: 68-31, 1 not voting (Yea – 51 Rs, 17 Ds; Nay- 31 Ds; No Vote – 1 R)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Ben Carson, Housing & Urban Development
Confirmed March 2, 2017
vote: 58-41, 1 not voting (Yea – 51 Rs, 7 Ds; Nay- 41 Ds; No Vote – 1 R)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

Rick Perry, Energy
Confirmed March 2, 2017
vote: 62-37, 1 not voting (Yea – 51 Rs, 11 Ds; Nay- 37 Ds; No Vote – 1 R)
Murkowski – Yes
Sullivan – Yes

[Murkowski nudges energy nominee Rick Perry toward Arctic and Alaska interests]

Upon confirmation, Murkowski congratulated Perry. "This is a critical time for the Department, and it needs steady leadership as we pursue the broad benefits of energy innovation and greater security for our nation's energy infrastructure. The Department's scientists and our national labs are vital to that effort, and I believe Gov. Perry will be a strong partner as we focus on everything from reducing rural energy costs to advancing the Alaska gasline project."

Not yet confirmed:

Andrew Puzder, Labor  withdrew from consideration Feb. 15, 2017

[Opponents of Trump's labor secretary nominee eye Murkowski as potential swing vote]

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Sonny Perdue, Agriculture

Alexander Acosta, Labor

U.S. Attorney – Alaska District — not yet named

U.S. Marshal – Alaska — not yet named

Erica Martinson

Erica Martinson is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News based in Washington, D.C.

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