Here’s how Sens. Burr and Tillis of NC are voting on Biden’s Cabinet nominees

After the U.S. Senate confirmed Merrick Garland as the new attorney general March 10, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis — who voted for Garland in both committee and on the floor — expressed his support for the former judge and one-time Supreme Court pick.

“I have no doubt he will serve our country well,” Tillis said in a statement.

Tillis and Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina’s senior U.S. senator, have supported confirmation for the vast majority of President Joe Biden’s 21 Cabinet-level nominees so far.

Burr has voted for 15 of Biden’s 21 confirmed nominees so far. He has voted against four of them and missed two votes. Tillis has voted for 14 of Biden’s picks, voting against five and missing two votes.

Their “yes” votes are in contrast to some fellow Republicans in the 100-member chamber, notably those with presidential ambitions, who have voted against almost all of the Democratic president’s picks.

North Carolina’s senators backed Michael Regan, a North Carolina native, for EPA administrator. He was confirmed with 66 votes with 34 Republicans, many from states with fossil fuel industries, voting against him. Burr and Tillis introduced Regan at his committee hearing.

“During his time working for North Carolina, Secretary Regan demonstrated his commitment to sound environmental stewardship and to building constructive relationships with those who may have different points of view,” Burr said in a statement. “I applaud the Senate’s bipartisan support of this qualified nominee, and look forward to working with him in this new role.”

But both voted against Alejandro Mayorkas for Homeland Security and Marcia Fudge for Housing and Urban Development. Tillis also voted against Jennifer Granholm for Energy.

Both backed Marty Walsh for Labor secretary. Burr is the ranking member of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, so several nominees passed through his committee, including Walsh.

“Secretary Walsh will bring with him the experience needed to tackle our current challenges, which include reopening the economy and getting Americans back to work quickly and safely. Secretary Walsh also understands that conversations between labor and management must be balanced,” Burr said in a statement after Walsh was confirmed.

Walsh was the final Cabinet secretary who needed to be confirmed. There are also several Cabinet-level positions, such as EPA and Director of National Intelligence, included in the tallies.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has voted against 15 of the 21 picks. Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz have voted “no” on 18. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton has voted “no” on 17, according to The Washington Post.

Neither Burr nor Tillis voted for Biden’s top legislative priority, the $1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan, that passed the Senate on March 6 along party lines and is now law.

Burr is in his third term in the Senate. He is not running for reelection in 2022. Tillis won his second term in November.

How Sens. Burr and Tillis voted for Biden’s Cabinet nominees

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This story was originally published March 12, 2021 at 1:31 PM.

Brian Murphy

The News & Observer

Brian Murphy is the editor of NC Insider, a state government news service. He previously covered North Carolina’s congressional delegation and state issues from Washington, D.C. for The News & Observer, The Charlotte Observer and The Herald-Sun. He grew up in Cary and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill. He previously worked for news organizations in Georgia, Idaho and Virginia. Reach him at bmurphy@ncinsider.com.