Senate Republicans say if Joe Biden nominates Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., former national security adviser Susan Rice, or Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to Cabinet posts, he could be headed for “a fight.”
The Hill noted that Republicans will control at least 50 seats in the new Senate. But the key to which party ultimately controls the chamber will depend on the outcome of the two runoff races in Georgia on Jan. 5.
Republican senators would not speak publicly about their expected opposition to the potential Cabinet nominees. But privately they revealed a possible fight if outspoken liberals are nominated.
“I had a colleague of mine say there’s no way Elizabeth Warren or Susan Rice could ever get confirmed,” said one GOP senator.
The lawmaker said “it would be a fight” if Biden nominated Warren, Sanders, or Rice.
But some Republican senators believe Warren could get through as the possible treasury secretary because of her background as a former Harvard professor and an expert on financial regulation, The Hill noted.
“I would not be one of the ones to stop the nomination,” said one of the GOP senators. “They could get all the Democrats and 10 Republicans.”
However, standing in the way of a possible Warren appointment is the fact that her replacement in the Senate would be chosen by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker — a Republican.
Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Biden “deserves” to have his nominees to the Cabinet confirmed, but added: “There may be some people that I just can’t vote for because I think they’re unqualified or too extreme.”