Unlikely Alliances Between Democrats and GOP That Could Complicate the Confirmation of Trump Appointees

Since Election Day, President-elect Donald Trump has made headlines after headlines over his unconventional slate of nominees for his Cabinet and other senior positions, which have included several men accused of sexual assault, a former Democratic Representative alleged to be a "Russian puppet," celebrities, and more.

The nominations are poised to bring potentially entertaining confirmation hearings from the Senate, who will be tasked with advising and consenting to these nominees.

Republicans were able to avoid a tumultuous confirmation for Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, who withdrew from consideration this week after a storm of criticism plagued his post, leaving him without enough votes to be confirmed. Now, the attention turns to the other nominees, such as Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, and Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, to see if they will survive the process and be appointed into Trump's cabinet.

The soon-to-be Republican-led chamber will be split 53-47 Democrats in the new session, meaning that Republicans can lose no more than three votes to confirm nominees without requiring bipartisan support. A 50-50 tie can be broken by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

An unlikely alliance between Democrats and Republicans could complicate the Senate hearings, according to NBC News.

In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins, the only GOP senator representing a blue state, has survived politically because of her willingness to buck her party at times, such as voting to convict Trump on impeachment charges of inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

Collins is set to run for re-election in 2026 in a state that Trump lost by 7 points, meaning she's certain to be a top Democratic target. Trump's Cabinet picks present an opening for her to demonstrate her independent streak if she chooses to vote against some of his more controversial or radical picks, according to NBC News.

Likewise, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is set to wield a great deal of power, having already shown she will be outspoken in her opposition to some of his Cabinet picks, telling reporters of the Gaetz choice: "I don't think it's a serious nomination for the attorney general. That's Lisa Murkowski's view."

Outgoing Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has also quickly risen to the top of Republican must-watch list. He has made his dislike for Trump well-known, and with little to lose, the spotlight remains on him to see whether he will materialize some of his oppositions and reject Trump's appointees.

But Republicans are not the only ones yielding power among their party. In fact, two Democratic Senators have also emerged with a brighter spotlight ahead of the new Congress, and who might dictate where the party leans moving forward.

Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, for instance, has made a name for himself for his unfiltered way of communicating, as well as his casual fashion style. He has also amassed a reputation among his party for breaking with their leftist ideas. He has expressed his willingness to support some of Trump's Cabinet picks, including his former 2022 rival, Mehmet Oz, to run Medicare and Medicaid.

Similarly, Sen. Jon Ossoff from Georgia, who is up for re-election in 2026, and might be a top GOP target for defeat given the Peach State's Republican stronghold, could use the nominations to show bipartisan tendencies, at least when it comes to Trump's more mainstream picks.