Vice President Pence broke a tie Wednesday over Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's (R) ambassador nomination, allowing Republicans to overcome a Democratic filibuster.

Pence was called in to cast the tie-breaking vote after a move to end debate on Brownback's nomination stalled at 49-49.



GOP Sens. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (Tenn.), who is currently in Davos, and John McCain John Sidney McCainMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day McConnell urges GOP senators to 'keep your powder dry' on Supreme Court vacancy McSally says current Senate should vote on Trump nominee MORE (Ariz.), who has been diagnosed with brain cancer, missed Wednesday's procedural vote, forcing Republicans to rely on the vice president.



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With Brownback overcoming the procedural hurdle, a final vote on his nomination is expected to happen this week.Trump nominated Brownback last year to serve as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.Brownback, a devout Catholic, would be the fifth person to run the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom — an office first created by legislation Brownback sponsored when he was a member of the Senate back in 1998.

The Wednesday vote is Pence's seventh tie-breaking vote as vice president.