In Alabama, in which Donald Trump won by an absolutely massive margin in the 2020 presidential election, a majority is now dissatisfied with the continuing block by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on the nominations and promotions for hundreds of posts across military leadership.
Tuberville has made his procedurally crippling objections to the advancements of affected figures in protest of a policy from the Defense Department to offer travel support to personnel seeking an abortion. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, Americans nationwide face a patchwork of access to abortion because of the restrictions enacted by some Republican state officials, necessitating travel for many living under bans. From the new survey, which was done by Public Policy Polling in association with the progressive advocacy organization VoteVets, 58 percent said Tuberville “has made his point and should now allow senior military promotions to move forward.”
Only 36 percent backed the idea of Tuberville indefinitely continuing with blocking these military nominations. Though it may be procedurally possible for the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority, to just individually vote Tuberville down on the individual nominations, it’s unclear it would be feasible, considering factors like the many other pressing needs facing Senators. Even among those identified from the sample’s broader pool of respondents as having voted for Donald Trump in 2020, a full 40 percent disagreed with Tuberville’s actions, saying he should step aside.
Tuberville and federal officials elsewhere have contended over whether his actions are having substantial impacts on the readiness of the U.S. military, though concerns haven’t even ended there. For large numbers of military families, immediate plans in practical terms have been upended, demanding new adjustments and creating what Tuberville’s detractors have characterized as personal impacts. Elsewhere, the military has also been the site for other political stand-offs, including over drag shows allegedly being held on installations, something Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) — whose district includes massive numbers involved with the military — has denied is a remotely pressing concern of military families.
