Kamala Harris Makes History with Record-Tying Number of Tiebreaking Votes in Senate

Kamala Harris, the first Indian American and African American vice president, tied the Senate tiebreaking vote record. Her 31st vote to break a tie, which she cast on Wednesday, moved Kalpana Kotagal's nomination to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission forward. John C. Calhoun, vice president from 1825 to 1832, was the only one to break as many ties as he did.

Compared to Calhoun's eight years, Harris only needed two and a half to reach the same point. This reflects the one-of-a-kind circumstances of Harris's vice presidency, including a highly partisan political climate and a closely divided Senate.

Mike Pence, her predecessor, used his veto 13 times. Joe Biden, Vice President under Barack Obama, did not use his tie-breaking vote once during his presidency.

Harris's high number of tie-breaking votes is interpreted as a reflection of the divisiveness of modern American politics. Due to the current level of partisanship in Congress, the vice president's vote is required even on issues that would have previously been easily settled.

The vice president has few constitutional responsibilities, but presiding over the Senate and voting to break ties is one of them. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a "immense burden," but he lauded Harris for doing a great job despite all the pressures she faces.

Harris had previously expressed a desire to work toward consensus in the Senate rather than cast tie-breaking votes, but she soon found herself in a position where she needed to do just that.