The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of Health and Human Services.
The vote, 65 to 31, came just before 6 p.m. in Washington D.C. after an all-day debate.
Both Kansas senators, Republicans Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, voted for Sebelius, a Democrat.
Last week, Brownback had said the governor’s veto of a bill aimed at tighetning regulations of late-term abortions made it harder to support her. Sebelius had vetoed similar bills in previous years.
The move means Kansas is likely to have a new governor when the Kansas Legislature returns Wednesday for a wrap-up session.
It’s hard to say if Sebelius could hand the reins of power over to Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson tonight or not – her office is keeping mum on its plans.