The Senate voted to confirm Howard Lutnick as Commerce secretary on Tuesday night in a 51-45 party-line vote.
The former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald had received the backing of Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, Pa., in a Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee vote last week. But ultimately no Democrats voted with Republicans in the full Senate vote.
Speaking on the Senate floor ahead of the vote, Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., cited Lutnick’s trade policy views as a major factor in her decision to oppose his nomination.“
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He made it very clear that he intends to be very enthusiastic about the president's plans for tariffs,” she said. She charged that these plans would stoke business uncertainty and raise costs.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was more complimentary of Lutnick’s appointment.
He said in a statement he is “optimistic” that Lutnick’s experience in the private sector will be valuable as “Republicans work to reverse the last four years of economic heartache.”
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