FILE – In this January 13, 2020 file photo, Cindy McCain, wife of former Arizona Senator John McCain, waves to the crowd after being recognized by Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey during his speech on the state of the state in Phoenix. The Senate confirmed two prominent anti-Trump Republicans to serve in the Biden administration on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, with former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake approved to serve as ambassador to Turkey and Cindy McCain, wife of the late Sen John McCain, approved to serve as Ambassador to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies.
FILE – In this file photo from December 6, 2018, Senator Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Senate confirmed two prominent anti-Trump Republicans to serve in the Biden administration on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, with former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake approved to serve as ambassador to Turkey and Cindy McCain, wife of the late Sen John McCain, approved to serve as Ambassador to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies.
Associated press
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate on Tuesday confirmed two prominent anti-Trump Republicans to serve in the Biden administration with former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake approved to serve as ambassador to Turkey and Cindy McCain, wife of the late Senator John McCain, approved to serve as Ambassador to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies.
The Senate also voted to confirm former Democratic Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico as Ambassador to New Zealand and Victoria Reggie Kennedy of Massachusetts, widow of former Senator Ted Kennedy, as Ambassador in Austria.
The nominations were approved by voice vote, a process taking only a few minutes that can be used as long as no senator objects. The Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, are demanding that the vast majority of Biden’s other State Department candidates go through a much larger and longer process.
Senator Chris Coons, D-Del., Thanked Senators for moving quickly on the four nominations, but said he remained concerned about the overall pace of confirmations for the President’s diplomatic corps.
“There are dozens of countries where there is no confirmed US ambassador, and I hope this moment of progress will be a predictor of further progress to come,” Coons said.