Senators on Thursday voted to change the chamber’s rules to allow simple majority votes on executive and judicial nominees. The move, known as the nuclear option, was proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. It followed Democrats’ frustration with Republicans’ requiring several of President Barack Obama’s nominees to meet a 60-vote threshold to advance. The simple majority would not apply to Supreme Court nominees or legislation. A total of 52 Democrats voted to change the rules and 48 Republicans opposed it.
