Garcetti India nomination wins critical test vote in Senate

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, MARY CLARE JALONICK and CHRIS MEGERIAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s nomination to become the next ambassador to India appeared headed for confirmation, 20 months after he was initially selected for the post. The nomination cleared a key test vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate despite a break in support among Garcetti’s fellow Democrats. But he was able to win over a handful of Republicans. The vote came amid continuing fallout from a sexual harassment scandal involving a former top adviser at Los Angeles City Hall. The vacancy in the ambassadorship has been a diplomatic gap for the Biden administration at a time of rising global tensions. President Joe Biden first nominated Garcetti for the post in July 2021.