Democrats wary of advancing President Trump’s FCC pick without bipartisan pairing

Democrats said they will object if Republicans seek to advance President Donald Trump’s GOP pick for the Federal Communications Commission without any attempt at bipartisan balance. “That will be a problem,” said Senate Commerce ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA). “We want pairing.” President Trump’s nomination of Danielle Thumann Severs for an open seat came without any announcements about filling the FCC’s other vacancy, which traditionally would go to a Democrat, or renominating Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez. Thumann Severs, a longtime aide to FCC Chair Brendan Carr, will have to clear the Senate Commerce Committee, where complaints from Sen Cantwell and other Democrats will be front and center.