The Senate is moving forward with Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The chamber voted 54-46 to advance Pruitt’s nomination, clearing the simple majority needed. Sens. Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampCentrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama MORE (D-N.D.) and Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinBiden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE (D-W.Va.) were the only Democrats to vote in favor of cloture on Pruitt's nomination, joining all 52 Republicans.

Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal MORE (R-Maine) on Wednesday became the only Republican senator to announce that she would oppose Pruitt, though she voted in favor of cloture for his nomination on Thursday.

Collins — who has voted against other Trump Cabinet nominees — told a local Maine radio station that she had concerns about how Pruitt would be able to run an agency he had spent much of his time as Oklahoma's top lawyer opposing and suing.

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"His actions leave me with considerable doubts about whether his vision for the EPA is consistent with the agency's critical mission to protect health and the environment," she said.

Pruitt's vote went forward despite a failed eleventh-hour effort by Democrats to delay it because of a pending court case involving email records.

Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee, led by Sen. Tom Carper Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperDemocrat asks for probe of EPA's use of politically appointed lawyers Overnight Energy: Study links coronavirus mortality to air pollution exposure | Low-income, minority households pay more for utilities: report OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium MORE (D-Del.), said that emails Pruitt’s office is likely to release publicly soon may be important in considering his nomination.

“These records are needed for the Senate to evaluate Mr. Pruitt’s suitability to serve in the position for which he has been nominated," the Democrats wrote in a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky).

But McConnell praised Pruitt on Thursday as a "welcome change" from the Obama administration, which he argued negatively impacted coal families in his home state of Kentucky.

"Pruitt thinks it's time for the EPA to get back clean air and clean water business," he said. "And to do so with an appreciation for the complexity of our modern world, with awareness of the broader economy, with compassion toward those impacted."

Thursday's vote sets up a final vote as early as Friday.

McConnell warned senators Wednesday that they should expect to stay in session through Friday afternoon, but a group of roughly a dozen senators are expected to leave for a security conference in Germany.