Gabbard overcame skepticism from Republicans about whether she was the right person for the director of national intelligence post. Sen. Mitch McConnell broke with his party to side with Democrats in voting ‘no.

Ms. Gabbard adjusted her position on warrantless wiretaps of overseas communications. She promised not to oppose reauthorization of the measure, a key switch in time that reassured Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, the Republican chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and Senator Todd Young, Republican of Indiana and one of the fence sitters.