Elizabeth Warren Joins Senators Voting Against DeVos: Latest Full List Who Are Anti-Trump Education Pick

Democrats are staging a 24-hour protest to oppose the nomination of President Donald Trump's cabinet pick for the post of secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, ahead of the final vote expected to take place at noon Tuesday with reports suggesting a possibility of a tie-breaking vote to be cast by Vice President Mike Pence.

"Democrats will hold the floor for the next 24 hours, until the final vote, to do everything we can to persuade just one more Republican to join us," Washington Sen. Patty Murray said on the Senate floor as the vote race tightened. Murray's spokesman told the Hill: "Democrats plan to keep the floor open and there will be speeches over the night in this final push."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Al Franken led the chorus of Democrats opposing DeVos in the all-night protest. While Warren said “it is difficult to imagine a worse choice” to head up the department, Franken, who grilled DeVos during her confirmation hearings said that "this is not a job for amateurs."

“The Republicans have made it clear no matter her experience, no matter her radical views ... they will ram this nomination down the throats of the American people sideways,” Warren said during a near hourlong speech.

"During her hearing, Ms. DeVos proved beyond a shadow of a doubt not only that her ideology is fundamentally incompatible with the mission of the Department of Education, but that she is fundamentally incompetent to be its leader," Franken said on Monday from the Senate floor.

Apart from Franken and Warren, others such as Kamala Harris, a junior senator from California, and Amy Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota, also criticized DeVos during their speeches.

“It is clear from her testimony, Betsy DeVos has not done her homework and she hasn’t done her homework in terms of preparing for the job. She did not prepare her homework and do her homework in terms of preparing for her hearing,” Harris said.

“I submit that Ms. DeVos’ opposition towards providing equal education opportunities to students with disabilities does not meet the moral test,” Klobuchar said.

DeVos, a Michigan Republican billionaire, has been criticized for her known support to charter schools and school choice, which permits low-income families to use public funds to finance for private or charter schools and as a result she was condemned by the largest labor union in the U.S., the National Education Association, as it argued that her principles may cost the public education system. Here is a list of the other senators who explained why they will not be voting for DeVos:

• Bernie Sanders, I-VT

On Thursday, Sanders tweeted: “We must strengthen public education in America, not destroy it,” saying that he will not be voting for DeVos.

• Angus King, I-ME

King told the Portland Press Herald on Tuesday “to say she’s a proponent of school choice is an understatement. Her whole career has been school choice to the exclusion of the basic public education system, and I am just such a firm believer in public education that I can’t go that far," while adding that his reasoning is based on DeVos’ lack of support for public schools.

• Chuck Schumer, D-NY

Schumer announced Thursday his opposition to voting for DeVos, emphasizing that she would “single-handedly decimate our public education system if she were confirmed ... her plan to privatize education would deprive students from a good public education, while helping students from wealthy families get another leg up.”

• Debbie Stabenow, D-MI

Michigan Sen. Stabenow reportedly said that after reflecting on her conversation with DeVos, she would not be voting for the nominee.

“Our conversation reaffirmed my strong concerns about her nomination. Betsy DeVos and her family have a long record of pushing policies that I believe have seriously undermined public education in Michigan and failed our children. Therefore, I cannot support (her),” Stabenow said.

• Cory Booker, D-NJ

New Jersey Sen. Booker released a statement citing “serious concerns” that prevent him from voting for DeVos as the secretary of education.

“I have long-supported targeted, accountable school choice initiatives to help ensure that poor children in chronically failing schools have the opportunity to receive a quality public education. But there are a number of departures between Mrs. DeVos policy beliefs and mine that prevent me from supporting her,” Booker said in the statement.

• Bob Menendez, D-NJ

Explaining his decision to oppose DeVos, Mendez told New Jersey teachers and school administrators Tuesday that “we should not entrust the future of our children to someone who has never participated in our public education system - either as a student, parent, administrator, or educator - and fundamentally misunderstands vital pieces of federal legislation like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).”

• Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY

Gillibrand added herself to the number of senators opposing DeVos by saying that DeVos does not share the senator’s commitment to a “strong public education system.”

“I will be voting against her confirmation and I will urge my fellow Senators to do the same. Students, parents and teachers deserve an Education Secretary whose commitment to public education and safe schools will not waver," she reportedly said.

• Joe Donnelly, D-IN

Donnelley confirmed his decision to not support DeVos on Wednesday after reviewing her record, qualifications and her confirmation hearing.

“I am concerned she will not prioritize efforts that are important to Hoosier families, like: expanding access to early childhood education, improving our public schools, and empowering student borrowers and reducing federal student loan debt," Donnelly reportedly said.

• Tammy Baldwin, D-WI

The Wisconsin senator said that his commitment to access of education for all students prevents him for voting for DeVos.

“It is very important to me that our next secretary of education respects this tradition and is committed to it, but after meeting with Betsy DeVos, and participating in the hearing as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, I don’t believe she does,” Baldwin said in a statement.

• Gary Peters, D-MI

Peters criticized DeVos’ record and qualifications during a Tuesday floor speech.

“Mrs. DeVos’ resume contains no experience in public education at any level – not as a teacher, not as an administrator, not as a student or parent, not as a school board member and not even as a borrower of public loans for college,” Peters said.

• Tim Kaine, D-VA

Kaine also joined the other dissenting senators who voiced their opposition toward DeVos.

“Mrs. DeVos has said that public schools are a ‘dead end’ and that ‘government really sucks’ when it comes to education. This statement betrays the commitment of thousands of public school teachers who work hard every day in our public schools, many in tough working conditions, to ensure our children are educated," Kaine reportedly said.

• Chris Murphy, D-CT

Like Sanders, Murphy announced his opposition through a tweet Thursday morning. "Guns in classrooms? Elementary schools run for profit? No thanks. I will vote NO on Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education,” the Connecticut senator tweeted.