Some Democratic senators regret voting to confirm Kristi Noem as DHS secretary

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

June 18, 2025, 5:23 PM EDT


WASHINGTON — Five days after President Donald Trump's inauguration, seven Senate Democrats voted to confirm Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Nearly five months later, most of them are critical of her, with some going as far as to say they regret their votes.

"I'm very disappointed. I'm very disappointed in her," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told NBC News this week. "If I were voting on her today, I definitely wouldn't vote for her." Freshman Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., also said he would vote differently and oppose her nomination if he could do it again.

"She's weaponizing the Department of Homeland Security. She is taking so many actions right now that are making us less safe and going against a lot of the things that she said that she was going to focus on," Kim said Wednesday. "So I have no confidence in her leadership right now."

The five other Democrats who voted to confirm Noem were Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, both of Michigan; Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, both of New Hampshire; and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. The vote on Jan. 25 was 59-34, with Republicans unanimously voting for Noem. Seven senators, six of whom caucus with the Democrats, missed the vote.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democratic-senators-regret-voting-confirm-kristi-noem-dhs-secretary-rcna213809

[elleng]

1. NO!!!!

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Good grief.

RESIST!! ✊️

[Karasu]

3. ...Some? SOME? ALL of them should be. Not a single Dem should have voted to confirm any of these unqualified

sycophantic pieces of shit.

[BidenRocks]

4. I've taken my pills and await sleep.

Thanks for getting pissed for us.

[CrispyQ]

51. Both my senators have voted yes on multiple noms, & one even made the naughty list.

I've called both offices to ask, "What part of 'You don't give fascists any quarter,' don't you understand?" Hickenlooper gave some lame ass excuse (to the media, not me), about not pissing off people you need to work with. WTF?

WAKE THE FUCK UP! THEY ARE NEVER GOING TO WORK WITH YOU!!!

https://ballotpedia.org/How_senators_voted_on_Trump_Cabinet_nominees,_2025

This page compares how U.S. senators voted on President Donald Trump's (R) nominees for Cabinet and Cabinet-rank positions in 2025.

Twenty-one nominees had been confirmed, as of March 10, 2025. Eight senators were tied for the most votes (19) cast against Trump's Cabinet nominees.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.)
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)

The most support from Democrats for Trump's nominees came from five Democrats who had voted to support 10 (48%) of Trump's nominees so far:

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.)
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.)
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)

One Republican, Mitch McConnell, voted against four nominees: Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer for secretary of labor. Four other Republicans voted against one nominee. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted against Hegseth and Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted against Chavez-DeRemer. According to an analysis by Wake Up To Politics' Gabe Fleisher, these votes account for a third of the 21 votes cast by senators against Cabinet nominations from a new president of their own party since 1989.[1]

One of Trump's Cabinet nominees was supported by all 47 Democratic senators and independent senators who caucus with Democrats: Marco Rubio for secretary of state. Six nominees received no supporting votes from any Democratic senators or independent senators who caucus with Democrats: Hegseth, Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget, Gabbard, Kennedy, Howard Lutnick for secretary of commerce, and Linda McMahon for secretary of education.

[Cha]

57. IOW.. "Cowering is best"..

Regarding:

Hickenlooper gave some lame ass excuse (to the media, not me), about not pissing off people you need to work with. WTF?

No, doesn't work that way.

TY for your Post!

[lapfog_1]

5. She shot her puppy for being a puppy

killed it in a gravel pit.

WTF did you think she was going to do as Sec of DHS??? Good grief!

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. This is about Kristi Noem, not Tulsi Gabbard

All 47 Democrats (plus Independents) voted against Gabbard, plus Mitch McConnell: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00050.htm

[Irish_Dem]

22. Thanks I have my head up my ass this morning!

Will delete it!

[Balatro]

7. Did they think she would magically become a different person?

Really tired of Dems bringing slinkies to knife fights and pretending republicans are decent.

[Alice B.]

8. ** pulls own hair out **

[Susan Calvin]

9. Duh. nt

[catrose]

33. Duh 2

[ananda]

10. Just her?

They should have blocked all of them,

[MarcoZandrini]

11. Well...

….just doh.

[hatrack]

12. Jesus Christ, what clue did you NEED? She always was a pathetic toady.

That ship has sailed, and Coulda Woulda Shoulda tickets won't get you on board.

[AllyCat]

13. Some???!!!

[Katinfl]

14. As far as I am concerned, they should not have voted for any of the nominations.

They should have not got any Dem votes. They are all not qualified. They all have bad track records. They all lied in the confirmation hearings.. Now is not the time to regret your vote or to be surprised by what they are doing. They are all a bunch of flunkie “yes” men. If the situation were reversed, does anyone think the R’s would vote for a Dem nomination?

[tonekat]

54. So disappointing!

The R's are disciplined to vote in a block. The Dems have turncoats willing to appease.

[Katinfl]

55. True.

Never thought I would have to say it, but the Dems need to take a lesson from the GOP on this.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

16. Every one of these seven Democratic "yea" voters should be ashamed.

I am especially dismayed that Andy Kim of NJ was one of them. I have a lot of respect for Kim; he was the person who was on their hands and knees cleaning floors in the U.S. Capitol after hours when the J6 insurrectionists trashed the building.

I am not surprised in the least that Fetterman was one of them. He needs to be primaried when he is up for re-election.

I am proud of the senators from my state. Senators Alsobrooks and VanHollen both voted “nay”.

Every single one of Trump’s moronic picks should have been rejected. Noem, Hegseth, RFKjr. and McMahon are especially egregious.

[Delphinus]

17. Some?

Every one who has voted with this misadministration should be doing some really deep soul searching at this point in time.

[NewHendoLib]

18. This is Susan Collins level concerning

It's just a big club, isn't it? We certainly don't elect our brightest and best.

[llmart]

19. I'd like to see that entire department shut down.

Why didn't DOGE do that? I've hated the stupid, Nazilike name for it anyway.

[Bengus81]

21. Little to fucking LATE isn't it Tim?? n/t

[Canada Kid]

23. Well Hello-O-O-O!!

Just realizing this now??? This is the strongest reason for the whole collection of Democratic Party members should resign immediately and allow a fresh crop of new faces to be elected. The whole party is now quite irrelevant, the ideas and attitudes are as old and worn out as it's present members. Only new younger and brighter people will bring in new supporters to ensure a strong party in the future. As long as the is an "old guard" in place, the democrats will never stand a chance.

[kacekwl]

24. I view these people as

I view trump voters. Face eaten yet ?

[Oopsie Daisy]

25. Would it have made any difference one way or the other? Was there a specific Democrat who cast the deciding vote?

If so, who was it? Which Democrat deserves all this scorn for "allowing this to happen?"

[ret5hd]

32. would it have made any difference if...

one more person voted for Kamala?
Was there a specific person who cast the deciding vote? If so who was it? Which person deserves all the scorn?

ALL OF THEM! If you vote for a nazi you ARE a nazi!

[stillcool]

38. A (D) is all that is required

to trash and bash the entire Democratic party. If any of my peeps voted for her I'd be pissed. But at them, not the no-name, no-face all need to be primaried generic D. Their rabid dog reaction is illogical, and of zero importance. The likelihood of us having another election makes any attention I give to this bullshit a serious error on my part. All I'm doing is giving the toxic noise room to spread the bile.

[betsuni]

46. A big tent party breaks the golden purity rule. Even one Democrat is enough to trash the entire party.

And go to a forum for supporters of the Democratic Party to do the bashing as if "supporters" mean people who hate Democrats.
Punching down is perfectly fine when they do it.

[barbtries]

26. Democrats in Congress

should be opposing every single thing republicans are doing. every appointment.

[NoMoreRepugs]

27. Little late?

[turbinetree]

28. Let me see if I get this straight they voted to impeach the asshole not once but twice.............but they confirmed

his sycophants when he "got" excuse me "bought" back into power.................and they are now banging there heads against the wall...........because his lacky's sitting taxpayer funded agency's buildings are trying to take down the Constitution................

[travelingthrulife]

29. Now, who would have thought a Snow Queen Puppy Killer would not be up

for the job..

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

30. Ya think?

eom

[Jirel]

31. 6 that should be primaried.

Oh no! Say it ain’t so! Noem was a well known fascist criminal, but they voted for her anyway. It’s like watching Susan Collins and her “concerns,” who’ll always do the wrong thing in the end, then “regret” being duped. You say no to fascism every time, kids. Simple. If you don’t understand that assignment, give up your seat to someone who does.

[LuvLoogie]

34. It's too late for them to take our plight seriously

Last edited Fri Jun 20, 2025, 01:17 AM - Edit history (1)

Were they not paying attention in 2016?

Immigrant abuse was perhaps a fourth tier concern?

[Abstractartist]

35. DINOS

These senators who voted for Noem for DHS are DINOS in my mind now. I have ZERO respect for everyone of them. This party is becoming a f’n clown show. Time to clean house. Start with Schumer and work your way down. Harris/Waltz should have never lost and should have had EVERY democrats support. It’s getting hard to keep myself from throwing in the towel on these so called servants of the people. Too many are still trying to be bipartisan, yet the right shits on them every time…

[JT45242]

36. On what planet was dog killer Barbie qualified for the job

Seriously...if mango Mussolini has nominated someone qualified, I could understand approving the person. (Not that he has nominated a bunch this time around)

But clearly she was not qualified.

How did you justify your vote in the first place? She's more qualified than Hegseth?

[kerouac2]

37. Duh... Can't believe the snake bit me... Duh

So many of our people need to do better. Way better.

[Solly Mack]

39. OK

[dsc]

40. This was obvious

I get Rubio but she was obviously going to be horrid.

[Polly Hennessey]

41. Always sorry when it's too late. Oh, woe is me, if only

I had known about her. Whaaaat!

[Deep State Witch]

42. DUH!

I can see Andy Kim and Elissa Slotkin making that mistake, because they were new. And Fetterman is a fucking disappointment. But Hassan, Kaine, and Peters? Really? Did you not realize that this woman was a nut job?

[Rebl2]

43. Cannot believe

Kaine voted for her. What the hell was he thinking!

[Mike Nelson]

44. I have a very simple solution...

... vote NO on every nominee proposed by the crooked orange man. NO exceptions!

[Clouds Passing]

45. At least NM senators didn't vote for her

[Ruby the Liberal]

47. WTF did they think was going to happen?

Seriously.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

48. No.Comment.

[Quanto Magnus]

49. Should have not voted for her in the first place

It was obvious what Trump was intending with his picks.... Why did any Dem for for any of these fascists????

[republianmushroom]

50. Just more, 'must reach across the aisle for Bipartisanship' horse crap.

Someday maybe, just maybe, democrats will learn not to trust or appease a republican. Damn, we have some foolish dems.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

56. Bipartisanship is pretty much dead these days.

That asshole Newt Gingrich and his cronies built the coffin and Trump and his MAGAt sycophants put the nails in it.

[republianmushroom]

58. Seems like there are still some Dems wanting to do it.

[CentralMass]

52. Some ? What the hell is wrong with the others who voted for her ?

[Skittles]

53. OMFG

[Mysterian]

59. Tim Kaine. WTF

Were you on drugs?

[Ursus Rex]

60. Such mild critiques.

"Disappointment" instead of "anger" or "profound betrayal" is a weak sop to people who are losing their family, friends, and livelihood. We ALL knew better, what did they actually expect? Is this more dry powder?