Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa announced on Tuesday that she would be voting for Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth—bringing one of the chamber’s last remaining Republican skeptics into line and significantly raising the former Fox News host and Army veteran’s chances of being confirmed.

Joni Ernst had been seen as a key hurdle to Pete Hegseth’s confirmation. She approached her questions firmly but without confrontation Tuesday.

Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst confirmed her support for former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense late Tuesday, following his initial Senate confirmation hearing. Ernst previously expressed skepticism regarding Hegseth’s nomination.

Ernst, an Army veteran and rape survivor, had previously expressed concerns over Hegseth’s past comments about women in combat roles and the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against

The Iowa Republican’s decision dramatically increases the likelihood that Mr. Hegseth will have enough votes to be confirmed as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s defense secretary.

Stonewalling questions about his sexual behavior and excessive drinking as “anonymous smears,” the Fox host charmed the Senate Armed Services Committee’s GOP majority into submission.

Ernst previously expressed an openness to supporting Hegseth after she had "encouraging conversations" with him last month, but held off on officially endorsing him until after the hearing.

Sen. Joni Ernst’s support is a huge boost to Hegseth’s prospects, all but assuring his confirmation as defense secretary barring unexpected twists in the GOP-led Senate.

Pete Hegseth’s views on women in combat were a matter of public record long before the Senate Armed Services Committee heard his case to become Donald Trump’s Defense secretary. Women are “life-givers,

Combat veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth is among President-elect Trump's more controversial cabinet nominees.

For a week in early December, it looked like Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, was cooked. Too many stories alleging womanizing, sexual assault, and drinking on the job were coming in,