Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) appears increasingly likely after his Senate Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, where Democrats missed key opportunities to derail his nomination.

Rather than focusing on areas where they might have found common ground, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) instead engaged in attacks on Kennedy’s past positions, a move that Republican strategist Brad Todd described as a “big mistake” during a discussion on CNN This Morning on Friday.

Todd explained that instead of effectively challenging Kennedy’s nomination, Democrats pushed him closer to Senate Republicans by focusing on divisive issues.