The tension in the Senate chamber on January 24, 2025, was thick enough to cut with a knife. It was late—one of those Friday nights where the air feels heavy with political history. Everyone was waiting for the answer to one question: Did any Democrats vote for Pete Hegseth?
Honestly, if you were looking for a bipartisan "kinda" moment, you aren't going to find it here. The short answer is a hard no. Not a single Democrat or independent who caucuses with them crossed the aisle to support the former Fox News host.
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It was a total lockout.
The final tally sat at 51-50. It was the kind of razor-thin margin that keeps party whips awake at night. Because three Republicans—Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski—actually jumped ship to vote against him, the whole thing nearly imploded. Vice President J.D. Vance had to swoop in to break the tie, marking only the second time in U.S. history a VP has been needed to confirm a Cabinet pick.
The Breakdown: Why the Vote Was a Ghost Town for Democrats
You've gotta understand the vibe in the room. Democrats weren't just "opposed" to Hegseth; they were practically vibrating with indignation. Senators like Patty Murray and Jack Reed didn't just cast a "nay" vote; they spent hours on the floor basically saying he was the most unqualified person to ever stand near the Pentagon.
Every single one of the 45 Democrats and the 2 independents (Bernie Sanders and Angus King) stood together. It’s rare to see that kind of absolute, 100% unity on a Cabinet nominee, especially for a role like Secretary of Defense, which usually gets a fair bit of bipartisan "he’s the Commander-in-Chief’s guy" leeway. But not this time.
What exactly made them dig their heels in?
- The Experience Gap: Democrats kept pointing out that Hegseth’s resume mostly involved a weekend National Guard career and a very long stint on a morning TV show. Running a bureaucracy with nearly 3 million employees is a bit different than a three-hour broadcast.
- The "Warrior Ethos" vs. Diversity: Hegseth made no secret of his plan to gut DEI programs. Democrats viewed this as an attack on the modern military structure.
- The Allegations: Between the 2017 sexual assault allegation (which he settled but denied) and reports of heavy drinking, the "no" votes were basically set in stone before the hearing even ended.
Why the GOP Defectors Mattered More Than the Democrats
Since we know the answer to "did any Democrats vote for Pete Hegseth" is zero, the real drama was actually within the Republican party.
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Usually, if the Democrats are a unified block of "no," the President just leans on his majority. But Trump’s 53-47 majority started to look shaky. When Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins said "no thanks" due to his views on women in combat, the math got scary.
Then came the hammer: Mitch McConnell.
The former Majority Leader, who usually keeps his cards close to his chest, walked onto the floor and gave a literal "thumbs down." It was a scene straight out of a political thriller. At that point, the count was 50-50. If one more Republican had flinched—someone like Thom Tillis, who was reportedly on the fence for hours—the nomination would have died right there on the floor.
The Aftermath of the 51-50 Nail-Biter
So, Hegseth is in. But he’s in with zero support from the other side of the aisle.
That creates a weird energy for a Defense Secretary. Usually, the person in that chair wants a good relationship with the Senate Armed Services Committee to get budgets passed. But since every Democrat on that committee voted against him, the "honeymoon phase" basically never happened.
Since taking the job, Hegseth has leaned into his role as a "change agent." He’s been busy trying to reshape the Pentagon’s culture, which has already led to some pretty public clashes. For instance, Senator Mark Kelly (a Democrat and retired Navy Captain) ended up filing a lawsuit against Hegseth’s administration over attempts to censor or punish military personnel who spoke out against the new leadership.
Basically, the battle didn't end with the vote; it just moved from the Senate floor to the Pentagon's hallways.
Quick Facts on the Hegseth Confirmation
If you're looking for the raw data to settle a bet, here’s how it shook out:
- Democratic "Yes" Votes: 0
- Independent "Yes" Votes: 0
- Republican "No" Votes: 3 (McConnell, Collins, Murkowski)
- The Tie-Breaker: J.D. Vance (Voted Yea)
- Confirmation Date: January 24, 2025
It’s a stark reminder of how polarized things have become. In the past, even controversial Defense picks like Chuck Hagel managed to snag a few votes from the opposing party. Hegseth didn't get a single one.
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Moving Forward: What This Means for You
If you're following the news, don't expect the drama to die down. Because the vote was so narrow and entirely partisan, Hegseth is under a microscope. Every policy shift he makes—whether it's about women in combat or military "wokeness"—is going to be met with a wall of Democratic resistance.
What you should watch for next:
- Budget Battles: Keep an eye on how the Senate handles the next defense budget. Without Democratic buy-in, Hegseth might have a hard time getting the funding he wants for his "warrior ethos" overhaul.
- Oversight Hearings: Expect Senate Democrats to call him back to the Hill frequently. They couldn't stop his confirmation, but they can certainly make his life difficult with constant oversight.
- Legal Challenges: As we saw with Mark Kelly's lawsuit, the courts might become the new battlefield for the policies Hegseth tries to implement.
The Hegseth confirmation wasn't just a vote; it was a line in the sand. And as it turns out, no Democrat was willing to cross it.