Senate Commerce Committee leaders still want to vote on FCC nominee Gigi Sohn this month, but the effort appears stalled, reports Axios. Three key Democrats on the panel face re-election next year. Sohn cannot afford to lose a single Democrat in committee if she wants a swift floor vote, notes Communications Daily.
Three weeks ago, the committee held a third and contentious nomination hearing on Sohn, Inside Towers reported. Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA), has yet to schedule a vote on Sohn’s confirmation.
The delay, coupled with skepticism from Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and continued opposition from the Fraternal Order of Police has led some Senate officials to conclude that Sohn’s nomination is in trouble, much like it was in the last Congress. “I’d like to echo concerns raised about the nominee’s positions on matters of importance for law enforcement, both nationally and in Nevada,” Rosen said at the beginning of her questions to Sohn at the February 14 hearing.
In previous party line votes, Republicans opposed Sohn and all voted against her in committee in the last Congress.
Seizing on past Twitter comments, Republicans don’t believe she can be impartial as an FCC Commissioner, Inside Towers reported. In her latest hearing, she blamed “industry opponents” for using “dark money” groups to stir up opposition.
Some Commerce Democrats remain strongly supportive of Sohn and believe she effectively countered GOP criticism during her recent confirmation hearing. Those supporters believe it’s important that Senate Commerce swiftly advance her out of the committee. Some argue that any further delay could lead to her confirmation process stalling again as it did in 2021 and 2022.
Three vulnerable senators on Commerce – Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) — are up for re-election in 2024. All three voted for Sohn in committee last year, but opposition from groups like the Fraternal Order of Police carry more influence for senators in an election cycle, notes Axios.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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