Rather than a blanket rejection of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, a group of politically vulnerable Senate Democrats is pledging to keep an open mind during the confirmation process.
Back in 2017, Hill Democrats were shellshocked by Trump’s upset victory and pledged to oppose the GOP standard-bearer at all costs. Eight years later, “the Resistance” is vastly diminished, and the post-election recrimination process is leading Democrats to embrace a different strategy in the face of Trump’s dominance.
“That’s what happens when the other side wins,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said, summing up the current Democratic mood. “They get their choices in those things.”
Trump’s most controversial picks won’t receive any Democratic votes. But keep an eye out for Democrats facing tough reelection races to use the coming confirmation fights to burnish their bipartisan credentials.
Senate Democrats, who are already dreading life in the minority in the upcoming 53-47 Senate, can’t afford to lose more seats in 2026. So incumbents in Trump-won states such as Georgia and Michigan will be ones to watch for the next two years on key votes.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (Ga.), arguably the most at-risk Senate Democrat next cycle, didn’t have anything negative to say about Trump’s picks. Ossoff has steadfastly kept his head down during his first term in the Senate, focusing on bipartisan issues and avoiding the national spotlight.
“I will give any president’s nominees good-faith consideration and will be eager to learn how they believe their tenure, should they be confirmed, will benefit Georgia,” Ossoff told us. “I am, as always, open-minded.”
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) struck a similar tone, saying he will consider “every candidate on their own qualifications and on their own merit.”
A common refrain we heard from Senate Democrats is a desire to let the process play out. Few were willing to appear reflexively opposed to Trump’s picks before hearings have kicked off. In some cases, these public job interviews could prove destructive for more controversial picks.
Some of Trump’s most controversial nominees, such as former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general, fell apart quickly in the face of overwhelming GOP opposition. Democrats didn’t have to do much there since Trump knew none of them would back Gaetz anyway.
Several Senate Democrats also believe it gives their arguments against Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel additional credibility if they’re not taking a blanket approach to all nominees.
“If they are reasonable, we will be reasonable. I think you will see less blanket opposition than the first time around, but we will not give up our roles,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told us. “Compromise where possible and fight when necessary.”
While it’s safe to assume that no Democrats will support Hegseth for defense secretary or Patel for FBI director, there will be significant bipartisan backing for the likes of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for secretary of state and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) for labor secretary. In the case of Chavez-DeRemer, some liberal Democrats have said they’re encouraged by her previous support for unions.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has been public about his support for Rubio, vice chair on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Warner, a former Virginia governor up for reelection in 2026, said he’s sympathetic to the leeway a chief executive gets in selecting personnel.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), whose state shifted ten points to the right this fall, said “I’m going to give everybody a fair shake,” but noted many nominations have “raised serious concerns to me.” Booker was among the group of progressives who opposed nearly everything Trump did during his first presidency.
Some Senate Democrats see Trump’s picks as far more dangerous than those from his first term, when Trump selected cabinet picks from a more moderate wing of the GOP. Eight years later, Republicans are thoroughly Trump-centric, with moderates fewer and far between.
“The nominees are so drastically crazy that of course our approach is going to be different,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “It’s almost hard to talk seriously about Patel as head of the FBI, about Hegseth as secretary of defense.”
To be sure, many of Trump’s nominees the first time around were viewed by Democrats as reasonable picks, such as Jim Mattis for defense secretary. Mattis, like other former top Trump officials, ended up speaking out against Trump. This time around, Trump is prioritizing personal loyalty as the top qualification for his nominees.
“I think this place should be on fire about the Bondi and Patel nominations,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said, referring to Pam Bondi’s nomination as attorney general. “They signal that he wasn’t kidding about using his power to try to destroy his domestic enemies.”
Staff news: Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has selected Philip Letsou to be his chief of staff. Letsou was a top communications aide at the NRSC this past cycle.
James Coyne will be Moreno’s state director. Coyne had that job for Vice President-elect JD Vance. And Reagan McCarthy will be Moreno’s communications director. McCarthy ran the press shop for Moreno’s campaign.
