Murkowski is a moderate with a history of bucking her party and Trump when she has felt it was the right thing to do.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins voted Thursday against advancing President Donald Trump's choice for defense secretary, who has faced allegations of heavy drinking, financial mismanagement and abusive behavior toward women.

The Senate voted largely along party lines Thursday to advance Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of Defense, brushing aside a litany of misconduct allegations and the objections of Democrats who argued he is unqualified for the job.

President Trump on Friday said he wasn’t expecting Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) to vote against his controversial nominee for secretary of Defense: Army veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth.

Even as handicappers adjudged Pete Hegseth ’s confirmation as secretary of Defense to be all but certain, not one but two Republican senators indicated a hard pass on the poorly qualified bad boy from Fox News.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Thursday that she would vote against confirming Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, becoming the first Republican to oppose one of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks. Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins also voted against Hegseth.

The Alaska Republican plans to vote against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense.

The US Senate on Friday approved Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s defense secretary by a razor-thin margin, in which, Vice President JD Vance had to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Sen. Susan Collins will be in the spotlight this week as high profile hearings get underway for two of President Donald Trump's most controversial cabinet appointees. But it will require some extra hustle from Maine's senior senator.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski is opposing the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be President Donald Trump's Defense secretary.

Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks with Trump and his allies who have mounted an extensive public campaign to push Hegseth toward confirmation.

Maine, breaks with party to vote against Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary. Can he still get confirmed?