Print this article Senate Democrats narrowly managed to advance Xavier Becerra's nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services in a Thursday vote of 51-48 with support from Susan Collins, the only Republican to break from the party. Collins, a centrist Republican from Maine, crossed party lines to vote in favor of the procedural vote to move Becerra's nomination to the Senate floor, giving Democrats the single GOP vote they needed to clear the path to confirmation without help from Vice President Kamala Harris. Centrist Democrat Joe Manchin indicated earlier Thursday that he would lend his critical support for Becerra.