North County Rep. Elise Stefanik moved one step closer to being confirmed as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations on Thursday, when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to advance her nomination out of committee and into a vote by the full Senate.

Stefanik gathered votes from both Democrats and Republicans on the 22-member committee — including Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, the highest-ranking Democrat of the committee — though some Democrats voted against advancing her nomination.

“I am honored for this morning’s bipartisan vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee supporting my nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations,” Stefanik said in a statement. “I will continue to work through the Senate confirmation process to bring President Trump’s America First peace through strength leadership to the UN.”

She testified before the Foreign Relations Committee last week, promising to put “America first,” to defend Israel from the “rot” of antisemitism she sees in the U.N. and to combat China in America’s global power struggle with the nation.

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said in a statement that filling the U.N. ambassador role is an “urgent national security priority,” and hopes to see Stefanik’s nomination pass the Senate “quickly.”

A date has not been set yet for the full Senate to vote on her appointment.

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Some Democrats vote ‘no’

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Democrats Chris Coons of Delaware, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Jeff Merkley of Oregon voted against Stefanik’s nomination. According to the Washington Times, Coons said it was a “close call” for him, but Stefanik’s support of Trump’s now-amended 90-day pause on foreign aid led him to vote “no.”

“I hope we can still work together, and she will represent us well, but I will vote against her,” he told the Washington Times.

Van Hollen told the Washington Times Stefanik is “the wrong person for the job” based on her voting record against the U.N. He also disagreed with Stefanik’s belief that Israel has a biblical right to occupy the West Bank Palestinian territory, and with her support of the U.S. withdrawing from the World Health Organization.

Merkley also cited Stefanik’s statements about the West Bank in his “no” vote to the Washington Times, saying he believes her “viewpoint perpetuates a cycle of war and hate.”

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Stefanik’s plans as ambassador

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If confirmed, Stefanik said she would be an advocate for the United States in an organization she believes often works against U.S. values.

She wants to hold the U.N. accountable to America’s values, keep China from gaining influence in the international body, protect Israel from accusations of human rights violations by the U.N., use America’s massive spending on the organization as leverage to guide it, reevaluate all spending on the organization, make cuts and show taxpayers what is being spent is providing some sort of return.

To read more about Stefanik’s testimony and plans for the influential positions she’s been nominated for, go to tinyurl.com/mw284389 and tinyurl.com/uxx3wy25.

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Special election

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If Stefanik is confirmed by the full Senate, she would need to resign from her House seat representing NY-21. This would kick off a special election to replace her.

A special election is not run like a normal election. Instead of primaries — where members of each party vote on who will represent their party on the ballot — the candidates are selected by the 15 county party chairs in the district.

Essentially, its a primary with only 15 voters.

After Stefanik submits a resignation letter, Gov. Kathy Hochul will have 10 days to issue a proclamation calling for a special election. Then, the election must be held within 70 to 80 days of the proclamation. Major party nominations must be made within 10 days of Hochul announcing the election. The party chairs’ votes are weighted by the number of party members in their county. Independent candidates will have 12 days to collect signatures to be nominated.

Already, dozens of Democrats and Republicans have lined up for a shot at a campaign for the seat.

With the House having a narrow Republican majority after the last election, this race could also attract national attention for its importance for both parties.