Senate Republicans might need Vice President JD Vance to help confirm Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national intelligence — even as he’s out of the country for a series of previously scheduled events and meetings.
The Senate will vote to advance Gabbard’s nomination on Monday night with a final vote on confirmation expected around midnight Wednesday, assuming lawmakers don’t yield back any of the 30 hours of debate time.
Gabbard should be fine getting over Monday’s hurdle. Though Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) hasn’t announced if he will ultimately confirm her, he is expected to help advance her nomination on Monday night, his office said.
And while Republicans are increasingly confident Gabbard will get confirmed, Curtis as well as GOP Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are being closely watched as potential swing votes. McConnell previously helped advance Pete Hegseth’s Defense nomination before ultimately voting against confirming him.
If three Republicans oppose Gabbard — and no Democrats support her, as expected — she will need Vance to break a tie to help get her over the finish line.
The vice president is currently is in France for an AI summit and meetings with foreign leaders, and he is expected to be in Munich later this week.
