The Senate confirmed Mark Esper as the new secretary of defense Tuesday. The Pentagon had been without a confirmed secretary for seven months, after James Mattis exited in December last year—the longest period ever without a permanent head. Esper is a former aerospace executive and was a top lobbyist for Raytheon. Five of the eight Democratic senators who voted against Esper are 2020 presidential candidates: Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar.