Senators were deadlocked 50-50 to end debate on Thomas Farr's nomination to be a district judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Pence, presiding over the chamber, then cast the tie-breaking vote.

The fate of Farr's nomination was held in suspense even going into the start of the vote on Wednesday afternoon.

Scott kept his cards close to his vest, dodging multiple questions on Wednesday ahead of the vote about if he would support Farr.

"By 12:15 I think have to know, so I'll know by then," Scott joked to reporters, referring to the Senate's two votes that were scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m.

Scott, the only African-American Republican senator, was considered a vote to watch after he opposed Ryan Bounds's circuit court nomination earlier this year, leading to the Trump administration withdrawing him.

The vote Wednesday on Farr's nomination was held open for several minutes, stuck at 49-50, as senators waited to see how Scott would vote.

It's unclear if Scott's decision to support Farr's nomination on Wednesday's procedural hurdle means he will also support him for final confirmation on Thursday. He previously supported Rounds's nomination on cloture only to warn he could not support him on final passage.

Farr's nomination has gotten national attention as Democrats have urged a Republican senator to join them in opposition.

"What a further disgrace it would be if our Republican colleagues march in lockstep," Schumer said before the vote.

But Democrats nixed the 60-vote filibuster for lower court nominations in 2013, meaning they can't block a Trump court pick without help from Republicans.

Farr’s nomination has drawn intense opposition from Democrats and their outside group allies, who warn that, if confirmed, he’ll use his position as a federal judge to rule against minorities.