Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who had been seen as a key Republican skeptic of Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Defense Department, said she will support him after his performance at Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.

Pete Hegseth spent several hours in front of the Senate, where Democrats repeatedly questioned his fitness for the position of secretary of defense.

Pete Hegseth was met with a friendly reception by Senate Republicans at his Tuesday hearing before the Armed Services Committee, who signaled they would get behind President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled nominee to be secretary of defense.