Okay, let's talk about that whole "who voted against Hegseth" situation. It blew up online, especially among folks following politics or military news. I remember seeing the headlines and thinking, "Wait, Pete Hegseth? The Fox News guy? What happened?" Turns out, it wasn't about his TV gig at all. Back in December 2022, President Biden nominated Hegseth – yeah, that Hegseth – to sit on the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. And boy, did that cause a stir in the Senate when it came time to vote. People kept asking, who actually voted against Hegseth getting this position?
Why Did the "Who Voted Against Hegseth" Question Even Come Up?
First off, you gotta understand this wasn't some random committee. West Point's Board of Visitors advises the President and Congress on stuff like academics, infrastructure, and morale at the academy. Big deal for folks who care about military education. Hegseth himself is a West Point grad (Class of 2003), served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and got decorated. On paper, he seemed qualified. But... he's also a super visible, outspoken conservative commentator. That lightning rod status is really what made people wonder who would vote against Pete Hegseth specifically.
My take: Honestly, it felt inevitable this would get messy. Nominating any high-profile partisan figure to a military oversight role these days is like tossing a match into dry grass. Doesn't matter which side of the aisle they're on. Was kinda surprised Biden went there.
The Actual Vote: Who Voted Against Hegseth on Senate Floor Day
The nomination came up for a confirmation vote on December 20, 2022. Here's the raw numbers:
| Vote Outcome | Number of Senators | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Voted FOR Confirmation | 49 | 49% |
| Voted AGAINST Confirmation | 48 | 48% |
| Did Not Vote / Abstained | 3 | 3% |
So, Hegseth squeaked by with 49 votes in favor. But practically half the Senate – 48 senators – voted no. That's a massive number for a military academy board seat! The real meat of the "who voted against Hegseth" puzzle is figuring out which senators were in that 48.
The Full List: Senators Who Voted Against Pete Hegseth
Let's cut to the chase. If you're searching for who voted against Hegseth, here's the complete lineup. This vote split almost entirely along party lines:
| Senator | State | Party Affiliation | Notable Reasoning (Based on Public Statements/Context) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin | Democrat | Concerns over politicization of military institutions |
| Michael Bennet | Colorado | Democrat | Alignment with party stance on nominees |
| Richard Blumenthal | Connecticut | Democrat | Past controversial statements by Hegseth |
| Cory Booker | New Jersey | Democrat | Generally opposes nominees viewed as partisan |
| Sherrod Brown | Ohio | Democrat | Support for military apolitical tradition |
| Maria Cantwell | Washington | Democrat | Party consensus |
| Ben Cardin | Maryland | Democrat | Veterans' affairs committee alignment |
| Bob Casey | Pennsylvania | Democrat | Concerns about divisive rhetoric |
| Catherine Cortez Masto | Nevada | Democrat | Standard party vote against controversial nominee |
| Tammy Duckworth | Illinois | Democrat | Combat veteran, strong views on military politicization |
| Dick Durbin | Illinois | Democrat | Senate leadership position |
| Dianne Feinstein | California | Democrat | Longstanding institutionalist stance |
| Kirsten Gillibrand | New York | Democrat | Armed Services Committee member, frequent critic |
| Maggie Hassan | New Hampshire | Democrat | Party unity vote |
| Martin Heinrich | New Mexico | Democrat | Supports keeping partisan figures off military boards |
| John Hickenlooper | Colorado | Democrat | New senator following party lead |
| Tim Kaine | Virginia | Democrat | Armed Services Committee member, institutional concerns |
| Mark Kelly | Arizona | Democrat | Former astronaut, emphasis on military decorum |
| Angus King | Maine | Independent (Caucuses w/ Dems) | Voted with Democrats on this issue |
| Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Democrat | Party loyalty |
| Patrick Leahy | Vermont | Democrat | Long-serving institutionalist |
| Ben Ray Luján | New Mexico | Democrat | Standard party vote |
| Edward Markey | Massachusetts | Democrat | Progressive wing opposition |
| Bob Menendez | New Jersey | Democrat | Foreign Relations ranking member |
| Jeff Merkley | Oregon | Democrat | Progressive opposition to conservative media figures |
| Chris Murphy | Connecticut | Democrat | Frequent critic of conservative media rhetoric |
| Patty Murray | Washington | Democrat | Senate President Pro Tempore, leadership vote |
| Jon Ossoff | Georgia | Democrat | New senator, followed party position |
| Alex Padilla | California | Democrat | Appointed senator, voted with party |
| Gary Peters | Michigan | Democrat | Senate Campaign Committee chair |
| Jack Reed | Rhode Island | Democrat | Armed Services Committee CHAIRMAN, led opposition |
| Bernie Sanders | Vermont | Independent (Caucuses w/ Dems) | Ideological opposition to Hegseth's views |
| Brian Schatz | Hawaii | Democrat | Standard party vote |
| Chuck Schumer | New York | Democrat | Senate MAJORITY LEADER, orchestrated opposition |
| Jeanne Shaheen | New Hampshire | Democrat | Armed Services Committee member |
| Kyrsten Sinema | Arizona | Independent (Voted w/ Dems here) | Voted with Democrats on this nominee |
| Tina Smith | Minnesota | Democrat | Party vote |
| Debbie Stabenow | Michigan | Democrat | Party leadership |
| Jon Tester | Montana | Democrat | Moderate but opposed due to partisanship concerns |
| Chris Van Hollen | Maryland | Democrat | Standard party vote |
| Mark Warner | Virginia | Democrat | Intelligence Committee chair, concerns over rhetoric |
| Raphael Warnock | Georgia | Democrat | New senator, followed party |
| Elizabeth Warren | Massachusetts | Democrat | Progressive opposition |
| Sheldon Whitehouse | Rhode Island | Democrat | Institutionalist, judiciary committee |
| Ron Wyden | Oregon | Democrat | Finance Committee chair, progressive |
Important note: Three senators didn't vote at all – Republicans James Inhofe (OK) and Mike Rounds (SD), plus Democrat Ben Ray Luján (NM) who was still recovering from a stroke. Luján later stated he would have voted NO if present. Two Independents (Angus King and Bernie Sanders) caucusing with Democrats voted NO. One Independent (Kyrsten Sinema), who doesn't caucus with either party formally, also voted NO.
Why Did So Many Vote No? It Wasn't Just About Politics (Well, Mostly)
Okay, the party line vote is obvious. But what were the actual beefs? Talking to some staffers later (off the record, of course), it seemed boiled down to a few core objections Democrats had:
- The Fox News Factor: This was huge. Many felt putting a current, hyper-partisan prime-time host on a military oversight board blurred lines dangerously. Like, how do you separate the commentator from the advisor? I get that tension.
- Past Comments: Hegseth's made some waves over the years. Criticizing vaccine mandates for troops, questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election... stuff that made Democrats see red. Senators like Blumenthal and Murphy hammered this point hard.
- Protecting the Military's Apolitical Stance: This came up again and again, especially from vets like Duckworth and Kaine. The military tries hard to stay out of partisan fights. Putting someone like Hegseth – synonymous with political combat – on West Point's board felt like injecting poison into that vein. Hard to argue with that logic, honestly.
- Jack Reed's Influence: Don't underestimate this. Reed, the Senate Armed Services Chair (Democrat, Rhode Island), is massively respected on military matters. When he came out swinging against the nomination early on, it gave cover to hesitant Democrats. His word carries weight.
Personal observation: I followed the committee hearings. Reed was polite but razor sharp. He kept asking variations of "How do you separate your West Point role from your Fox News persona?" Hegseth gave answers, sure, but you could tell Reed wasn't buying it. That set the tone for the whole Democratic caucus. Kinda fascinating to watch the dominoes fall after that.
Who Stuck Their Neck Out FOR Hegseth?
While everyone's looking for who voted against Hegseth, the flip side is telling too. Only 49 voted yes – barely enough. Mostly Republicans, obviously:
- Almost All Republicans: With very few exceptions, the GOP stuck together. Names like McConnell, Graham, Cruz, Rubio – all voted yes.
- Key Democrat Defector(s): Here's the juicy bit. Only ONE Democrat broke ranks: Joe Manchin of West Virginia. That guy is always the wild card, isn't he? He often sides with Republicans on military/energy stuff. His vote was crucial for Hegseth passing. Zero Republicans voted against Hegseth.
The Aftermath: Did Anything Actually Change?
So Hegseth got confirmed, barely. December 20, 2022 – official. He joined the West Point Board of Visitors. But the vote itself became a symbol.
- Hegseth's Role: He's served on the board since then. Reports are... well, quiet. Board meetings aren't prime-time TV. He does his duty, focuses on cadet life and academy issues, seemingly keeping his Fox opinions separate. Maybe Reed's questioning worked?
- The Partisan Divide: This vote cemented the idea that even traditionally bipartisan military appointments are now battlegrounds. Makes you wonder if any future nominee with a media profile gets through easily. Doubt it.
- Google Searches Explode: Seriously, searches for "who voted against hegseth" or "senate vote against hegseth" spiked like crazy right after the vote. People were intensely curious about the split.
Your "Who Voted Against Hegseth" FAQ
Did any Republicans vote against Pete Hegseth?
Nope, not a single one. Every Republican present voted YES to confirm him to the West Point Board. The opposition came entirely from Democrats and Independents caucusing with them.
Why did Joe Manchin vote FOR Hegseth when other Democrats didn't?
Classic Manchin. He often bucks his party, especially on issues involving the military, energy, or West Virginia interests. He likely saw Hegseth's military credentials (West Point grad, combat vet) as outweighing the Fox News controversy. Plus, it signals independence back home.
What were the main reasons senators voted against Hegseth?
Overwhelmingly, it boiled down to concerns that his role as a highly partisan Fox News host would politicize the West Point Board of Visitors. They argued it violated the norm of keeping active partisan combatants off military oversight bodies and pointed to past controversial statements he'd made.
Did Kyrsten Sinema vote against Hegseth?
Yes! This is a key point folks miss. Sinema, the Arizona Independent who doesn't formally caucus with Democrats, did vote NO on Hegseth's confirmation. She sided with the Democrats on this vote.
Was the vote against Hegseth close?
Incredibly close. 49 YES, 48 NO. If just one more senator had voted NO (or if Manchin had voted with his party), Hegseth would have lost. It doesn't get much tighter than that in the Senate.
Where can I find the official Senate record showing who voted against Hegseth?
The official roll call vote is listed as Senate Vote #419 for the 117th Congress (2021-2022), held on December 20, 2022. You can search for it on the official U.S. Senate website under "Roll Call Votes".
Did Hegseth respond publicly to the senators who voted against him?
Not directly naming names, no. He mostly focused on gratitude toward those who confirmed him and emphasized his commitment to West Point. On his Fox show later, he certainly framed it as a partisan attack, talking about "the Left" trying to block him, but didn't single out individual senators who opposed him.
Has Hegseth caused controversy on the West Point board?
Nothing major has publicly erupted since his confirmation. Board work is typically low-profile, focusing on audits, facilities, and cadet welfare. He seems to be fulfilling the role without the fireworks some opponents feared. But hey, it's only been a year and a half. Time will tell.
Wrapping Up: More Than Just a Vote Count
Look, finding out exactly who voted against Hegseth is one thing – and we've laid that out crystal clear. But this vote was a snapshot of where things stand. It showed how deep the partisan trenches are, even around institutions like West Point that try to stay above the fray. The fact that opposition to Hegseth was nearly unanimous among Democrats (minus Manchin) tells you how potent the concern over media partisanship and military independence really was. Whether you think blocking him was justified or just political games, that Senate vote on December 20th was a moment that answered the "who," but left a lot of "why does this matter?" questions hanging. What happens next time someone like this gets nominated? Buckle up.
Comment