The Senate narrowly advanced President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE’s controversial pick to lead NASA on Wednesday after Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style MORE (R-Ariz.) switched his vote to break a tie.

Senators voted 50-48 on Republican Rep. Jim Bridenstine James (Jim) Frederick BridenstineNASA publishes Artemis plan to land first woman, next man on moon NASA is in the market for moon rocks Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE (Okla.) to lead NASA, giving him the simple majority needed to move forward.

Bridenstine’s nomination appeared to have stalled after Flake initially voted against him, resulting in a 49-49 tie. Vice President Pence, who could normally have put Bridenstine over the top, is in Florida, leaving Republicans unable to break the stalemate.

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Flake’s temporary opposition appeared to take lawmakers by surprise. After he voted “no,” Flake was immediately cornered by Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas), the GOP vote counter, and Republican floor staff.

The Senate was stuck in a tie for roughly 30 minutes before Flake came back to the floor and switched his vote from a “no” to a “yes,” allowing the nomination to advance.

The vote on the nomination lasted more than an hour.

Flake told reporters later that he needed to have "some discussions, some extra time" on issues, but declined to provide specifics.

"I just needed some more time so we'll see where it goes from here. ... It was a close vote so, I just wanted some time to think about it," he told reporters.

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Cornyn said Flake was "looking for some assurances" that he would be able to talk again to CIA Director Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE, nominated to lead the State Department.

"I'm confident he'll have that chance this afternoon," he told reporters, adding there were "issues" about travel restrictions to Cuba.

Flake said on Tuesday that he was undecided on Pompeo's nomination and wanted more information.

Bridenstine now faces up to an additional 30 hours of floor debate, potentially kicking a final vote into Thursday.

Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE (R-Ariz.), who is battling brain cancer, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth Ladda (Tammy) Tammy DuckworthMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Biden courts veterans amid fallout from Trump military controversies John Fogerty: 'Confounding' that Trump campaign played 'Fortunate Son' at rally MORE (D-Ill.), who recently gave birth, missed Wednesday's cloture vote.

Bridenstine was widely expected to overcome Wednesday’s procedural hurdle after key GOP votes indicated they would support him at least on the first hurdle.

“I’ve met with him and I’ve been lobbied both for and against him. People are raising some concerns that I’m looking further into,” GOP Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (Maine) told The Hill.

Collins previously has made waves by rejecting some of Trump’s nominees — including Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt Edward (Scott) Scott PruittJuan Williams: Swamp creature at the White House Science protections must be enforceable Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE and Education Secretary Besty Devos. She said she was still undecided on how she will vote on final confirmation for Bridenstine.

Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Democrats step up hardball tactics as Supreme Court fight heats up Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (R-Fla.) has previously said he doesn’t think a “politician” should head NASA. But he nonetheless voted to invoke cloture on his nomination.

"The unexpected April 30 retirement of the Acting Administrator would leave NASA ... with a gaping leadership void unless we confirm a new Administrator. Because of this I decided to support the nomination of Rep. Bridenstine," Rubio said in a statement.

He added that "I expect him to lead NASA in a non-political way and to treat Florida fairly.”

Republicans argue that Bridenstine is up to the task.

He has served in the House since 2013, and was previously a Navy pilot, having flown missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also previously the head of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium. Democrats, however, say he blatantly mismanaged that organization, leaving it with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt.

“I am proud and deeply gratified that President Trump has nominated Rep. Bridenstine to lead NASA,” Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R-Texas) said at Bridenstine’s confirmation hearing last year.

Democrats have also criticized Bridenstine for being skeptical of climate change science and argue that he doesn’t have the scientific background necessary to lead such an important agency.

Furthermore, they’ve charged that Bridenstine has been politically divisive, including through his involvement as an outspoken surrogate for Cruz's presidential campaign in 2016.

“NASA is one of the few remaining areas that has largely avoided the bitter partisanship that has invaded far too many areas of government and our society today, until now,” Sen. Bill Nelson Clarence (Bill) William NelsonDemocrats sound alarm on possible election chaos Trump, facing trouble in Florida, goes all in NASA names DC headquarters after agency's first Black female engineer Mary W. Jackson MORE (Fla.), the top Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said on the Senate floor earlier Wednesday.

Nelson flew into space in 1986 as part of a NASA program to put politicians on spaceflights. He is running for reelection this year.

Miranda Green contributed to this report.

Updated: 3:54 p.m.