Conservative group pressuring nine GOP senators to support Trump picks

Heritage Action, the advocacy arm of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, is working to pressure GOP senators from nine states to support President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks.

The group is launching a $150,000 digital ad campaign that will run from Wednesday to Dec. 31. Ads will run in Alaska, Maine, Louisiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Utah, South Dakota and the District of Columbia.

“Americans gave President Trump a mandate on November 5 to implement and pass his top priorities as quickly as possible. The Senate must now do its part to have Cabinet appointees confirmed and ready to go ensure this conservative mandate can be carried out effectively,” Heritage Action executive vice president Ryan Walker said in a statement.

Trump has already had one Cabinet pick step back from consideration after facing opposition from senators. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew his name as Trump’s attorney general pick after questions about a sexual misconduct report.

Republicans won back the majority in the Senate in the recent election, but Trump’s nominees can only afford up to three GOP defections assuming all Democrats vote against them.

Trump’s Defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth is also facing allegations of sexual misconduct, and multiple other nominees have gotten pushback on Capitol Hill.

The Heritage Action group said they are going to run the ads to “lead residents of those states to sign a petition” that will urge GOP senators in their state to confirm Trump’s appointees.

“Heritage Action will remain flexible in the coming weeks and months to ensure the Senate delivers on the promises made to the American people,” Walker said in his statement.

Topics

GOP senators change tune over Trump Cabinet picks after MAGA pressure

A pressure campaign from allies of Donald Trump toward Senate skeptics of some of his Cabinet picks appears to be starting to pay off
ABC News - 3h
Pressure ramps up for Senate Republicans to back Hegseth

President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks were back on Capitol Hill to shore up support among GOP senators, including his embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth.
ABC News - 23h
Under pressure: Trump world presses senators on Hegseth

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Under pressure: Trump world presses senators on Hegseth The ...
The Hill - 1d
Musk-backed group runs ad pressuring senators to support Hegseth

A group previously backed by tech billionaire Elon Musk is running an advertisement pressuring senators to support President-elect Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. The ad, from ...
The Hill - 1d
‘Crazy ideology’: US groups drop diversity efforts as conservative pressure grows

Scale of the pullback is an abrupt reversal from policies that appeared poised to widely influence corporate ranks
Financial Times - 5d
Fani Willis ordered to turn over communications in Trump case to conservative group

A Georgia judge ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to turn over to a conservative watchdog group any communications she may have with special counsel Jack Smith or the ...
The Hill - Dec. 4
A top GOP senator predicts Trump’s picks will get FBI background checks

Politico - Dec. 2