Democrats Provide Crucial Votes to Confirm Trump's Bad New Health Secretary

Nearly five months after Tom Price resigned in disgrace as Health and Human Services Secretary, his successor has been confirmed—thanks in part to seven Democrats.

On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Alex Azar–a onetime corporate lobbyist and former head of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly—to run the government agency responsible for buying medication and managing the remains of the Affordable Care Act.

Azar’s documented history of lethal price gouging, nefarious business practices, and opposition to women’s reproductive rights made him unpalatable to even some GOP senators. But never fear! Here come the Democrats—seven of them, specifically—who chose to overlook Azar’s decidedly swampy roots and gave President Trump exactly what he wanted.

They are:

• Tom Carper (DE)
• Chris Coons (DE)
• Joe Donnelly (IN)
• Heidi Heitkamp (ND)
• Doug Jones (AL)
• Joe Manchin (WV)
• Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats (ME)

Nice work, everyone!