The Senate confirmed former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as U.S. ambassador to India on Wednesday, ending a virtually two-year battle over his nomination.

Senators voted 52 to 42 to verify Garcetti to the submit. He misplaced the votes of three Democrats however satisfied seven Republicans to cross the aisle, successful him the job.

The end result was something however assured. Democratic defections had mounted Wednesday morning, with a number of senators citing lingering questions on whether or not Garcetti knew or ought to have recognized a few former high aide’s alleged sexual harassment of colleagues.

Six senators had been absent from Capitol Hill on Wednesday, additional complicating the vote counting.

But Garcetti’s nomination was rescued by the Republican senators who broke ranks to help him, together with Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Steve Daines of Montana, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Todd Young of Indiana.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who mentioned as just lately as final week that she was going to present Garcetti “the benefit of the doubt” that he did not learn about alleged misconduct by a top aide, mentioned Wednesday morning that she would oppose the nomination based mostly on “credible” new info she obtained. She wouldn’t disclose what she had discovered.

Along with Hirono, Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Mark Kelly of Arizona voted in opposition to the nomination.

Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, who’s accountable for counting votes for Democrats, had refused to foretell Tuesday whether or not the vote would achieve success. Democrats haven’t “whipped” the vote — or requested every Democratic senator how they intend to vote — “so I don’t assume any outcome until we” vote, he mentioned.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who was just lately recognized with shingles in San Francisco, was among the many senators who missed the vote Wednesday.

The White House and Garcetti had strongly pushed for a vote to be held, whatever the end result.

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That put a vise round some Democrats who had publicly expressed concern about whether or not Garcetti knew concerning the sexual harassment that his former aide, Rick Jacobs, allegedly dedicated.

While two Republicans already supported Garcetti in committee, it was unsure till the day of the vote whether or not different Republicans would cross the aisle to avoid wasting a Biden nominee, notably if Democrats balked.

Garcetti supporters argued that geopolitical issues had been too essential to depart India with out an envoy. The U.S. Embassy in India has been with out an envoy since January 2021, the longest stretch within the historical past of U.S.-India relations that the submit has sat vacant.

“This has become a grave national security concern of mine — not to have an ambassador in place. Our strategic partners wouldn’t conceive of going two years into the establishment of a government or administration and failing to place their person in the role,” said Young, one of the two Republicans who supported Garcetti in committee. “So it’s not an ideal situation, but we have to balance these competing concerns, and I do think he’s equipped to be very successful in that role.”

President Biden nominated Garcetti in July 2021. But the nomination withered amid the sexual harassment issues. Garcetti told lawmakers that if he had known about the harassment, he would have executed one thing about it.

With Republicans promising to slow-walk the nomination, Senate Democrats final yr had been unwilling to waste invaluable flooring time to maneuver it and as a substitute wished to deal with laws that would go the Democratic-controlled House.

When Republicans took management of the House this yr, Senate Democrats pushed most laws to the again burner and prioritized shifting stalled nominees, together with Garcetti.

This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.