13 Senate Democrats Vote to Advance Trump Nominee During Shutdown

[Mysterian]

Source: New Republic

Thirteen Senate Democrats voted alongside Republicans Tuesday to instate a conservative judge to the Northern District of Alabama.

The Senate voted 66–32 in favor of confirming Harold “Hal” Mooty III as a U.S. district judge. Donald Trump nominated Mooty last month, and his confirmation needed a simple majority in the Senate.

The Democrats that voted in favor include:

Senators Chris Coons (Delaware)
Dick Durbin (Illinois)
John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
Martin Heinrich (New Mexico)
Tim Kaine (Virginia)
Mark Kelly (Arizona)
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota)
Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Adam Schiff (California)
Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
Peter Welch (Vermont)
Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island)

Read more: https://newrepublic.com/post/202072/13-senate-democrats-vote-donald-trump-nominee-shutdown

---

I have to wonder why Democrats are doing anything to help republicans as the government shutdown continues and the corrupt Speaker of the House refuses to swear in an elected Democratic congresswoman.

[Chasstev365]

1. 🤬🤬🤬🤬

[RandiFan1290]

2. lol

[ificandream]

3. I'm curious about that list.

There are some very strong liberals in there. I doubt they'd have voted for this guy if he was a complete Trumper.

[intheflow]

4. Sheldon Whitehouse?!

Mark Kelly and Adam Schiff?!

[mountain grammy]

10. There are several anti trump conservative judges out there

I wish a some of them were still on the bench. doubt if I would have said that before ..

[Wiz Imp]

36. So far this year, 12 Judicial nominees have been confirmed

This guy is the only one to receive even a single Democratic vote. So clearly, there was something about him that some Democrats found to be acceptable. He clearly isn't a typical Trump Judicial nominee.

[cstanleytech]

5. Might be part of a deal to get the heathcare tax credits covered OP.

We'll just have to wait and see.

[Hope22]

6. Seems like when dealing with these people we should get our perks

Up front. There is never a guarantee with Rs.

[rampartd]

8. once the judge is sworn in it is for life

deals with trump do not age as well.

[mdbl]

31. You can't trust the word of a repuglican

ever.

[cstanleytech]

38. Yes you can trust them......to break it if they just feel like it.

[Wiz Imp]

37. Nope. Democratic votes made no difference in the confirmation.

He would have been confirmed even if 0 Democrats voted for him. 2 other Judicial nominees were confirmed in the past 2 days with 0 Democratic votes. This guy is the only Judicial nominee (out of 12) so far this year to get a single Democratic vote. Clearly, Democrats found him to not be a typical Trump Judge nominee.

[Wiz Imp]

7. "I have to wonder why Democrats are doing anything to help republicans"

Those votes don't help Republicans at all. The nominee would be confirmed even with 0 Democratic votes.

Note: I'm not defending the votes, I don't think any Democrat should be voting for anything on the Republican side at this point. Just pointing out that their votes don't make a difference on any nominees supported by at least 50 Republican Senators..

[doc03]

9. I get at least one or two texts a day asking

for money. This stuff and getting on the suckers list has keep me from giving.

[Mysterian]

17. I beg to differ

The votes show that several Democrats showed solidarity with their republican "colleagues" as the fascist republican takeover of the U.S.A. continues apace. Anything that shows cooperation with these motherfuckers is helping them out, in my humble opinion.

[Wiz Imp]

23. That's just silly. A nominee being confirmed with 50 votes vs a nominee being confirmed

with 70 votes vs a nominee being confirmed with 90 votes is irrelevant. They are all confirmed and have the exact same amount of power no matter how many votes they got. Rubio was confirmed by unanimous consent. Would he be any better if all Democrats had voted against him? Of course not. He's terrible regardless. Democratic votes did not help the Republicans at all. He was going to be confirmed regardless.

[Mysterian]

24. Precisely why I question the Democratic votes

Take your silly and place it somewhere dark.

[Wiz Imp]

35. There have been 12 Judicial nominees confirmed so far this year.

This guy is the only one to receive even a single Democratic vote so there is clearly a reason why several Democrats found him acceptable. Getting angry over a handful of Democrats making a totally irrelevant vote on a single Judicial nominee is ridiculous. Anger should be reserved for votes which make a difference in legislation getting passed. I don't think there have been more than 3 or 4 of them in the Senate so far this year.

[Ferrets are Cool]

27. I agree 100%

[questionseverything]

18. Repubs did need help for cloture, which the dems provided

So the nominee would not have been confirmed w/o dems

[Wiz Imp]

22. WRONG. There is no filibuster on nominees.

If there were we would not have Noem, Bondi, Hegseth, Patel, Kennedy, and a bunch of others who were confirmed with only Republican votes.

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL31980

On November 21, 2013, the Senate reinterpreted Rule XXII to allow cloture to be invoked on any nominations, except those to the Supreme Court, by a majority of Senators voting, instead of by three-fifths of the Senate. On April 6, 2017, the Senate voted to extend this reinterpretation to allow cloture to be invoked by a majority on nominations to the Supreme Court as well.

[questionseverything]

29. See post # 14

[Wiz Imp]

32. So what? I repeat: THERE IS NO FILIBUSTER ALLOWED ON NOMINEES.

Read this again from the official Congressional website.

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL31980

On November 21, 2013, the Senate reinterpreted Rule XXII to allow cloture to be invoked on any nominations, except those to the Supreme Court, by a majority of Senators voting, instead of by three-fifths of the Senate. On April 6, 2017, the Senate voted to extend this reinterpretation to allow cloture to be invoked by a majority on nominations to the Supreme Court as well.

recent votes:

579 (53-46) Agreed to On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture: William W. Mercer to be United States District Judge for the District of Montana Oct 21

578 (53-46) Agreed to On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture: Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida Oct 21

Notice 2 votes invoking cloture on US District judges which passed with only the 53 Republican votes.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00579.htm
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00578.htm


It only takes a simple majority to invoke cloture on nominees. I won't hold my breath waiting for you to admit you were wrong - but whether you admit it or not, YOU WERE WRONG.

[questionseverything]

33. This isn't my job, I don't care either way

[Wiz Imp]

34. {sigh} 🙄🧱🙄🧱

Last edited Wed Oct 22, 2025, 02:49 PM - Edit history (1)

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

11. Some "opposition party," eh? (n/t)

[58Sunliner]

12. WTAF.

[niyad]

13. Thank Goddess my two are not on that list. With the exception

of fetterman, I am seriously depressed by that list.

[littlemissmartypants]

15. I want explanation not exploitation. Don't you? Good grief. What is going on?

[littlemissmartypants]

14. Done deal...

Cloture was invoked on his nomination by a vote of 62 to 34.[5] On October 21, 2025, his nomination was confirmed by a 66–32 vote.[6] He is awaiting his judicial commission.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Mooty

Mooty is currently a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in its Huntsville, Alabama office.[2] His focus is on commercial litigation, including contract disputes, shareholder disputes, and torts. He's also practiced insurance, medical malpractice, and technology law[4][3]

[Farmer-Rick]

16. Well the Republicans only needed 51 votes

They had 53 without those 13 Dems. So, I wonder what the purpose of those Dems votes was? It's certainly not a good look in the middle of a shutdown fight.

[NewEnglandAutumn]

19. Wrote a few

to express my anger with them about this Democrats need to learn to just say no

[Deminpenn]

20. Conservative isn't necessarily equal to Trumper

nt

[Paladin]

21. Hope you're proud of yourselves, Senate Democrats.

"I Sunk Down To Fetterman's Level" is such a worthy goal attainment...

[Hotler]

25. I have nothing nice to say.

[Clouds Passing]

26. What has happened to Martin Heinrich? Very disappointing.

[Emile]

28. Why would they do this?

[Miguelito Loveless]

30. We ask for opposition to fascism

We get Marshall Petain's Vichy government.

[karin_sj]

39. WTF?

Very very disappointing to see some of the names on that list.