The Michigan Senate voted to reject Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s pick for a panel that oversees hunting regulations Thursday morning in a rare rebuke of a governor’s appointment to a state board or commission.

In a 20-16 vote, the Senate Republican majority rejected the appointment of Anna Mitterling to the Natural Resources Commission, a move Whitmer’s office characterized as “sexist, partisan games.”

Under Michigan law, the state Senate has overview power over gubernatorial appointments to most boards and commissions, legally known as advice and consent. A majority of senators can reject appointments subject to their review within 60 days of the appointment, but any appointment not disapproved during that time frame stands confirmed.

The Senate has an Advice and Consent Committee tasked with an initial review of the governor’s appointments. Currently chairing that committee is Sen. Pete Lucido, R-Shelby Township, who is under investigation by the Senate Business Office over sexual harassment allegations made by fellow Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, and Michigan Advance reporter Allison Donahue.

Mitterling is an independent and is a biology professor at Lansing Community College, and previously served as a wildlife coordinator with the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, according to a statement released by Whitmer’s office when she was appointed in December.

In a statement, Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown said Senate Republicans demanded the governor pull another recent Natural Resources Commission appointment, George Heartwell, in exchange for keeping Mitterling on the panel.

“Now, they’re threatening to reject a qualified woman who has dedicated her career to wildlife conservation because they didn’t get what they want,” Brown said. “Sen. Shirkey had promised to turn over a new leaf, but it’s now clear that they care more about their sexist, partisan games than the well-being of our state.”

Heartwell is a former Grand Rapids Mayor who previously served on the Michigan Transportation Commission. The NRA Institute for Legislative action recently criticized his appointment to the Natural Resources Commission over concerns he’s supported gun control legislation.

No Republicans spoke on the Senate floor about the rejection, but following Senate session, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, disavowed claims that the move was sexist, and said Mitterling was rejected due to concerns over “her ability to understand the immensity of the commission and the very important need to provide guidance.”

“She looked like she just came across as being a little bit not willing to make tough decisions, quite frankly,” he said.

Shirkey declined to comment on whether the rejection had to do with Heartwell, but said it’s not unusual to negotiate and “try to find a middle ground” with the governor’s office as part of the advice and consent process.

“I think it’s shameful, quite frankly, for a governor, in particular this governor, to invoke race and sex on something of this nature because that just diminishes the candidate themselves," he told reporters.

Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, passionately defended Mitterling’s resume and record on the Senate floor and said she didn’t deserve to be rejected by the Senate.

“Quite frankly, most of you would be lucky to have a resume like this...she is obviously qualified. There is zero question of it,” Sen. Curtis Hertel said.

He continued: “The reality is that those in the majority are mad about a man, so they’re going to take it out on a qualified woman.”

Hertel told reporters Mitterling was at the Natural Resources Commission Thursday morning and was pulled out mid-meeting following the Senate vote.