A cloture vote on a nomination is a vote to limit debate, not a vote to confirm the nominee. For this nomination, cloture required more yes than no votes; 48 of the 95 senators voting yes or no were needed.

The Senate voted on the nomination the following day and confirmed Dahl, 49-44.

• On the Nomination PN901-4
  Jun 11, 2026Nomination Confirmed (49-44)

The vote cleared the way for the Senate to decide whether to confirm the nominee to a senior legal adviser position at the Department of State.

• Department of State
  Dahl’s confirmation filled the nomination for the department’s Legal Adviser position.

The parties’ majority positions differed: Democrats’ majority position was no, while Republicans’ was yes. One Democrat voted yes, while both independents who voted opposed cloture.

• D
  Jeanne ShaheenNew Hampshire

  Voted YES against party majority— The only Democratic member who voted yes while most Democrats voted no.

• DMichael BennetColorado— One of 5 members not voting; the result was decided by 3 votes.
• DTina SmithMinnesota— One of 5 members not voting; the result was decided by 3 votes.

Cloture

Senate procedure that ends debate on a measure. Requires 60 votes to invoke on most legislation, simple majority on nominations after the 2013/2017 nuclear options. Voting yes on cloture is not the same as voting yes on the underlying bill — many senators do one but not the other.

Motion to proceed

Senate motion to begin formal floor consideration of a bill. Itself filibusterable, so often the first hurdle a bill faces — and often where bills die without ever being debated on their merits.