Collins said she would vote to advance Gabbard's nomination. (Reuters)
Collins sits on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which will embark on a pivotal vote on Gabbard's nomination on Tuesday, sources confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The Maine Republican has developed a reputation for occasionally bucking her party, most recently doing so on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's confirmation vote.
Her support for Gabbard at the committee level was thus far from certain.
Young hasn't revealed how he plans to vote. (Alex Wong)
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., hasn't said how he plans to vote in committee. Because of this, he's managed to garner the criticism of Trump-aligned billionaire Elon Musk, who recently claimed on X that Young is a "deep state puppet" in regard to his uncertainty about Gabbard. The post has since been deleted.
A spokesperson for Young told Fox News Digital in a statement, "Senator Young and Mr. Musk had a great conversation on a number of subjects and policy areas where they have a shared interest, like DOGE."
ELIZABETH WARREN GRILLED RFK JR ON DRUG COMPANY MONEY, BUT RECEIVED OVER $5M FROM HEALTH INDUSTRY
Musk spoke with Young on the phone. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Musk also shared on X over the weekend, explaining, "Just had an excellent conversation with [Young]. I stand corrected. Senator Young will be a great ally in restoring power to the people from the vast, unelected bureaucracy."
While Collins' support bodes well for Gabbard's fate at the committee level, it also forecasts a better outlook among the full Senate, given her vote against Hegseth. If she advances to a floor vote, Gabbard can afford to lose just three Republican votes, assuming she does not get any Democratic backing.
Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/crucial-moderate-gop-senator-backs-tulsi-gabbard-ahead-committee-vote