Senate ends debate on the nomination of Colin McDonald
On the Cloture Motion PN786-9
MAR 23, 2026 · 8:24 PM ET
CLOTURE ONPN 786-9Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney GeneralMAR 23, 2026 · 8:24 PM ET
AGREED TO
51–45
A party-line vote. 2 votes to spare over the 49 needed.
A yes on cloture only ends debate. It is not a vote to confirm the nominee.
CLOTURE ON NOMINATIONS →READ THIS RIGHT
A yes on cloture only ends debate. It is not a vote to confirm the nominee.
CLOTURE ON NOMINATIONS →45 DEM2 IND53 REP
YEANAYCROSSEDTAP A SEAT
WHAT WAS DECIDED
What the Senate was voting on
IN PLAIN WORDS
The Senate voted on whether to end debate on Colin McDonald’s nomination to be Assistant Attorney General. The motion passed with 51 yes votes, 2 more than the 49 needed.
A YES MEANT
End debate on Colin McDonald’s nomination and move to a final vote.
A NO MEANT
Keep debating the nomination. Not a vote against the nominee itself.
THE NOMINATION · PN 786-9
Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney General
Department of Justice
WHERE IT STANDS · WHAT’S NEXT
Confirmed on March 24, 2026.
MAR 24Considered by Senate.
MAR 24Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47.
WHY IT NEEDED 490 VACANT · 100 SWORN
49is a majority of the 96 senators voting yes or no. Members voting “present” or absent don’t count.
- 2013, 2017
- Ending debate on nominations has needed only a simple majority since 2013, and on Supreme Court nominees since 2017.
- VP
- On a 50–50 tie the Vice President can cast the deciding vote.
49 is a majority of the 96 senators voting yes or no. Members voting “present” or absent don’t count.
- 2013, 2017
- Ending debate on nominations has needed only a simple majority since 2013, and on Supreme Court nominees since 2017.
- VP
- On a 50–50 tie the Vice President can cast the deciding vote.
HOW EACH SIDE VOTED
A straight party-line voteStraight party line.
13THParty-line Senate vote in March
241STCloture vote in the Senate this Congress
31Senate roll calls in March
THE JOURNEY
Every vote on PN 786-9Every vote on PN 786-9
MAR 24SENATE#65On the nominationCONFIRMED52–47
MAR 23SENATE#64Cloture on the nominationTHIS VOTEPASSED51–45
MAR 21SENATE—Cloture motion filedFILED
MAR 19SENATE—Reported by committeeREPORTED
JAN 29SENATE—Received in the SenateRECEIVED
SENATE · MAR 23
51–45
PASSED · NEEDED 49
IN THE SENATE · JAN 29 – MAR 24CONFIRMED 52–47
- JAN 29Received in the SenateRECEIVED
- MAR 19Reported by committeeREPORTED
- MAR 21Cloture motion filedFILED
- MAR 23#64THIS VOTECloture on the nominationPASSED51–452 votes to spare over the 49 needed.
- MAR 24#65On the nominationCONFIRMED52–47
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