Democrats outraged as Fetterman votes to advance Markwayne Mullin nomination

Democrats reacted with outrage to their party colleague John Fetterman’s decision to advance the nomination of Republican US senator Markwayne Mullin as homeland security secretary.

Fetterman, the senior US senator from Pennsylvania, has in recent months broken with the party several times to support Republican proposals, and has routinely expressed staunch support for Israel. He cast the decisive committee vote on Thursday to advance Mullin’s nomination to succeed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary.

That prompted US House member Brendan Boyle, another Pennsylvania Democrat, to say that the vote showed why Fetterman was Donald Trump’s “favorite Democrat”.

“He needs to go,” Boyle added.

US House member Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat, said: “If you needed any more proof that Fetterman has completely abandoned his constituents, here it is. Pennsylvanians deserve a senator that actually fights for them.”

Meanwhile, at a town hall on Thursday night, US House member Chrissy Houlahan – another Pennsylvania Democrat – suggested Fetterman was more difficult to work with than the their state’s junior senator, Republican Dave McCormick.

“Well, we have this senator – we have two, actually … and I have to be really honest with you, of the two I have more success in working with the one on the [Republican] side of the aisle than the one on the [Democratic] side of the aisle,” Axios reported Houlahan saying.

Writing on X, Fetterman on Thursday alluded to how he had called on Trump to fire Noem from his presidential administration after federal immigration agents under her purview fatally shot two US citizens in January.

“And he did” fire Noem, Fetterman wrote, adding: “I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open mind.”

Fetterman also alluded to how he voted “aye” in favor of appointing Mullin because he disagrees with his Democratic colleagues who have refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security in a bid to leverage immigration enforcement reforms, causing various DHS agencies to be temporarily shut down.

“We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS,” Fetterman wrote. “My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security.”

Fetterman was the only Democrat to join seven Republicans on the Senate committee on homeland security and governmental affairs in advancing Mullin’s nomination from the panel to the full chamber. The Senate could confirm Mullin, of Oklahoma, next week.

Six other Democrats joined committee chair Rand Paul – a Kentucky Republican – in voting against advancing Mullin’s nomination, particularly due to their concerns over allegations that the nominee had encouraged political violence.